Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool engaged in discussions with World Cup winner Ousmane Dembele back in 2016 as they sought to bolster their attacking options. At that time, Dembele was fresh off an impressive season with French club Rennes, where he had notched 12 goals and provided five assists.
According to reports from L’Equipe, Dembele, accompanied by his representatives, met with Jurgen Klopp in Paris for talks regarding a potential transfer to Anfield. However, Liverpool faced competition from other clubs who were interested in securing the talented winger’s services.
Liverpool were interested in Ousmane Dembele after his breakout season with Rennes
It was revealed that Austrian giants RB Salzburg had previously invited Dembele to visit their facilities and had submitted a €4 million (£3.46 million) bid for him before his breakthrough season. However, Rennes rejected the offer.
Ultimately, Dembele made a move to Klopp’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, in a €15 million (£12.9 million) deal. He continued to impress at Dortmund, delivering a stellar season with ten goals and 22 assists before making a high-profile transfer to Barcelona. Although his time at the Camp Nou was plagued by injuries, Dembele eventually returned to France, signing with PSG in the summer of 2022.
Throughout his career, Dembele was frequently linked with a move to the Premier League. In May 2018, Klopp was humorously asked about Liverpool’s interest in Dembele, to which he replied, “Is he on the market? Now I’m interested.”
Klopp has succeeded with Sadio Mane
Barcelona president Joan Laporte confirmed that Dembele had received a Premier League offer in January 2022, although he did not specify the club involved. He stated, “Different solutions have been proposed, and the latest one depends on the player accepting it so that he can go to an English club.”
While Liverpool ultimately did not secure a deal for Dembele, they found a highly capable alternative in Senegalese forward Sadio Mane.
The Reds acquired Mane for £34 million from Southampton in the summer of 2016. Mane went on to become a crucial figure under Klopp, contributing 120 goals in 269 appearances and helping Liverpool clinch major titles, including the Premier League and Champions League.
Mane contributed 120 goals in 269 appearances and helped Liverpool win major titles
Last summer, Mane made a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich before joining Saudi club Al-Nassr in August. Despite his age, the 31-year-old has continued to impress, tallying seven goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for his new team.
