The subject of one of the most lengthy transfer sagas of Jurgen Klopp's tenure will likely line-up in a World Cup last-16 clash today.
But many Liverpool fans might not even know it.
Instead of Liverpool, Piotr Zielinski moved to Napoli in 2016, going on to become one of the Italians' key players in making over 300 appearances for the club, and with an impressive 46 goals to his name in the process.
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Now 28, Zielinski has also established himself as one of his country's finest players. He boasts 77 caps, but perhaps none will be more important than when he lines up against France in Poland's first match outside the World Cup group stages since 1986.
Liverpool's recruitment team, led by Michael Edwards and supported by Klopp, were once quite enamoured with the midfielder, impressed by his strong-running and creativity during a loan spell at Empoli from fellow Serie A side Udinese.
The Reds' interest in Zielinski was, in fact, not new. The player had been tracked as a teenager but stayed with local club Zaglebie Lubin before moving to Udinese aged just 17.
Klopp, though, was determined and Zielinski, pictured wearing a Liverpool shirt during the transfer saga, was keen.
Eventually, an £11.75million bid was lodged. Udinese, however, rejected it, and muddied the waters further by accepting an identical offer from Napoli. AC Milan also wanted the player but, with Liverpool now out of the picture, Napoli was his chosen destination.
But if Zielinski prospered in Naples, so did the man Liverpool turned to instead.
Indeed, Liverpool would eventually commit £25m to sign Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle and the Dutchman didn't take long to establish himself as the perfect component in Klopp's midfield as the Reds lifted the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title a year later.
With his pace, physique, work ethic, clever passing and game intelligence, Wijnaldum was his manager's dream, as capable in a defensive midfield role as he was bursting forward and initiating attacks. There was even a stint up front in the Champions League at Barcelona.
His eventual departure in 2021 left Liverpool fans heartbroken and while Thiago Alcantara has shown class since moving from Bayern Munich in the same summer, Wijnaldum has been missed at times.
Zielinski may have done the business at Napoli and be destined for even greater things with his country.
But the impact of Wijnaldum ensured it's a transfer failure few Liverpool supporters truly lament.
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