Liverpool were close to securing the services of the World Cup star
Jurgen Klopp working as a pundit for Magenta TV during the World Cup.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed a Liverpool transfer target he missed out on(Image: Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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Jurgen Klopp has revealed he was keen to bring Bayern Munich star Konrad Laimer to Liverpool during his time in charge. RB Leipzig refused to sanction a sale at the time, however, and the Austrian remained in the Bundesliga, completing a free transfer to Bayern a year later.
Liverpool instead brought in Arthur Melo on an emergency loan before offloading Fabinho and Jordan Henderson the following summer, when interim sporting director Jorg Schmadtke oversaw a wholesale midfield restructure.
At Bayern, Laimer has predominantly featured at full-back, establishing himself as a versatile squad player. Now aged 29, he is currently representing Austria at the World Cup being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"What I can say about Konrad Laimer is that, in my team, he would play as a number six," Klopp said on Magenta TV ahead of Austria's 2-0 defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. "I wanted to bring him to Liverpool to play that role. But then he went to Bayern."
Currently, Liverpool are pursuing another RB Leipzig talent in Yan Diomande, who is also making his mark at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast.
The Reds have already signalled their readiness to pay in the region of £85million for the 19-year-old, though it is widely understood that such a figure would fall short of Leipzig's valuation.
Konrad Laimer of Austria
Laimer could've been a Liverpool player if Klopp got his way(Image: Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
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The German club are eager to retain Diomande for at least another season, and would ideally secure him on a contract extension, albeit one containing a release clause.
Earlier this week, former Germany international Steffen Freund suggested that Diomande's development could be better served by remaining in the Bundesliga for a further 12 months.
"Physically, he should be able to manage it," Freund said. "But take Florian Wirtz as an example: he's joined the reigning champion and was expected to win the title straight away. The pressure on him is immense.
"In the Premier League, he's up against better full-backs than in the Bundesliga. It's a different kettle of fish – it's a real battle there."
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