Liverpool are expected to be busy this summer but not all of their past transfer approaches have gone to plan
Marc Guehi of Manchester City gives a thumbs up during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium
Liverpool have seen plenty of deals collapse in the past including Marc Guehi's(Image: Getty)
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Liverpool will hope they can bolster new manager Andoni Iraola's squad this summer. But the Reds have been left with egg on their face during plenty of past transfer pursuits.
With Arne Slot supplanted and former Bournemouth boss Iraola at the wheel, Liverpool's fifth-place Premier League finish in the season just gone is something the club will look to put behind them. To do this, they will undoubtedly need to shake up their squad and have already started to do so.
Victor Munoz has been signed from Osasuna for £34.5million and a trio of first-team stars, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all departed upon the expiration of their contracts. Jeremy Jacquet has also touched down after his £60m move was agreed in January.
But other areas need boosting and a replacement for Salah is a must. As the Reds court a handful of transfer targets, they'll be trying to avoid the miserable situation they've found themselves in many times before: witnessing a deal fall through at the last minute. The ECHOtakes a look at some of these faux pas.
Marc Guehi
Liverpool's latest transfer horror story comes courtesy of Marc Guehi. In the final weeks of the 2025 summer transfer window, then-Crystal Palace skipper Guehi made his intention to leave the club clear with one year remaining on his deal.
This prompted the Reds to approach the defender, whom they viewed as a long-term replacement for the ageing Virgil van Dijk. With Palace wanting to cash in, they agreed to a cut-price £35m deal.
Guehi passed his Liverpool medical, but the transfer hit an unexpected snag. Then-Palace boss Oliver Glasner was furious about the sale and when a parallel move for Brighton's Igor Julio fell through, the plug was pulled. Guehi signed for Manchester City in January.
Moises Caicedo
In August 2023, after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, Liverpool were in dire need of a new midfield star and singled out Moises Caicedo, who had shone for Brighton.
The Reds tabled a British record £111m offer, which was accepted. Jurgen Klopp even confirmed that the deal had been done in a press conference, but the only issue was that Caicedo had given Chelsea his word months prior that he would sign for them.
Moises Caicedo #23 of Ecuador looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium
Caicedo snubbed Liverpool for Chelsea(Image: Getty)
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He refused to travel for a medical at Liverpool. The player would go on to sign for the west London side for £115m and Liverpool pivoted to Wataru Endo.
Nabil Fekir
Five years before the Caicedo debacle, Nabil Fekir seemed all set to become a Liverpool player. The then-Lyon captain had swiftly emerged as one of Ligue 1's finest talents and was World Cup-bound with France.
The midfielder flew to Liverpool, passed his medical and even had a shirt number picked out. The contract was signed and the official media was completed, but at the eleventh hour, the deal collapsed.
Nabil Fekir of Real Betis reacts during the La Liga match between Deportivo Alavés and Real Betis Balompié at Estadio de Mendizorroza
Fekir looked certain to become a Red(Image: Getty)
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Initially, it was reported that concerns over a knee issue were raised, but it was later claimed that his agent had scuppered the proceedings. His representative supposedly demanded more money and fiscal payoffs, leaving the Reds no choice but to walk away out of principle. It is worth noting that the exact reason for the move falling through is unknown.
Fekir, who was linked heavily with a move to Manchester United in the wake of this collapse, later joined Real Betis. The World Cup winner last played for UAE Pro League side Al Jazira and is currently a free agent.
Dani Alves
Dani Alves made over 400 appearances for Barcelona, but the right-back could have ended up at Liverpool in 2006 were it not for the club's penny-pinching.
Dani Alves of Brazil celebrates with his trophy after winning the Copa America Brazil 2019 Final match between Brazil and Peru at Maracana Stadium
Alves was a serial winner(Image: Getty)
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On the back of their 2005 Champions League win, former Reds boss Rafa Benitez identified Sevilla's Alves as a full-back who could transform his team's right flank. With personal terms agreed, he urged the club to pull the trigger.
Sevilla wanted £8m for Alves, but the Liverpool board refused to finance it. Instead, they shelled out £6.7m on Jermaine Pennant and Alves remained at Sevilla for two more seasons, winning the UEFA Cup back-to-back. He signed for Barcelona in 2008 and went on to play for Juventus and PSG, ending his career with 43 trophies.
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