LIVERPOOL remain interested in Anderlecht winger Jeremy Doku after failing to sign him as a 16-year-old.
The 17-year-old forward travelled to the club’s Melwood training ground in 2018 and met with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp but the deal fell through when Liverpool thought the player had already signed for Chelsea.
Liverpool are once again interested in Anderlecht’s Jeremy Doku, after initially trying to sign him as a 16-year-old.
But the Belgium under-21 international’s father has explained the story behind their trip to Merseyside and how the mix-up came about when discussing his daughter and Doku’s sister, whose name is Chelsea.
“At the age of 16, Jeremy could sign a pro contract with Anderlecht,” he said.
“But even then Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Ajax and PSV were interested.
“My preference was Liverpool. How we were received there, damn.
“Klopp explained how he saw a potential successor to Sadio Mane in Jeremy. Steven Gerrard showed us videos with tactical analysis.
“At the training complex Mignolet, Mane and Wijnaldum came to talk to us. Yet Jeremy was distracted by the talk. Liverpool panicked.
“We talked about Chelsea and they thought he was going to sign there while we were just chatting about our youngest daughter. She’s called Chelsea.”
The teenager went on to sign a contract with Anderlecht and he recently extended his deal until 2022.
At the time, Klopp was said to have seen Doku as a long-term successor to Sadio Mane and the Premier League leaders could look to revive a bid for the youngster this summer, according to reports.
Doku has proved to be one of the bright sparks in the Belgian side’s disappointing season, scoring four goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.
However, Belgian paper Het Niewsblad has claimed Doku will ignore interest from Bundesliga clubs and the European champions to stay in Belgium for at least one more year.
Doku, 17, has four goals in 24 appearances in all competitions this season.Credit: Getty – Contributor
Vincent Kompany screams at Anderlecht fans after they throw flare at Simon Mignolet during Club Brugge loss
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
