For every successful transfer acquisition there is always one that gets away. Liverpool fans will be hoping that isn't how the club's pursuit of Jude Bellingham turns out. But it was certainly the case when the Reds tried to sign Yevhen Konoplyanka in the January 2014 window.
The winger had already been crowned Ukrainian Football of the Year on three occasions when Liverpool came calling. When the Reds' first target, a certain FC Basel player called Mohamed Salah, agreed to join Chelsea, attention quickly turned to the next man on their list. Plying his trade for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, he had a buy-out clause in his contract for £16m and Liverpool were prepared to match it.
But there was one rather major snag when it came to completing the deal - Dnipro president, Ihor Kolomoyskyi, simply refused to sign off the deal as he didn't want to lose his star player.
READ MORE: Fabinho's wife reacts to transfer rumours linking the Liverpool midfielder with a move
READ MORE: France send transfer warning to Liverpool but Jude Bellingham deal changes everything
Speaking to Weszlo, Konoplyanka said: “I was crying. A delegation of serious people from Liverpool came to Dnipropetrovsk. We ate dinner. They were (willing) to pay as much as (Dnipro owner) Ihor Kolomoyskyi wanted.
“Martin Skrtel wrote me a message: ‘We are waiting for you’. Steven Gerrard also gave me his blessing. I used to go to Kolomoyskyi: ‘Please, please, please, let me go. It will make my dream come true’. I begged. Liverpool offered 25m euros (£18m). But I didn’t feel disappointed about going to Sevilla (instead).”
In the end Liverpool's CEO Ian Ayre and his delegation left the Ukraine empty handed, despite trying everything they could to land their man.
In a separate interview with Tribuna, Dnipro CEO Andriy Stetsenko explained his side of the tale. He said: “For Konoplyanka, whom Liverpool wanted to buy, a specific amount was assigned. The British club fought until the last (minute to sign him). Then their representatives flew to us on a private jet for the final stage of negotiations. In case of a positive outcome, Konoplyanka was supposed to fly away with them.
“(Liverpool) did not agree with the figure that was asked of them. Perhaps they thought that a private jet would make some impression. That showed the seriousness of their intentions. (But Dnipro) did not go for a price reduction. As a result, Liverpool flew away with nothing.”
With the deal dead in the water, Konoplyanka eventually joined Spanish side Sevilla the following summer and was part of their squad that beat Liverpool in 2015-16 UEFA Europa League final 3-1 at the St. Jakob-Park, in Basel. But while the Reds' first target Salah was eventually captured and has gone on to become an Anfield legend, 32-year-old Konoplyanka is prolonging his career in Poland with Cracovia.
READ NEXT:
Jurgen Klopp gives new detail on Luis Diaz injury and next 'plan' for Liverpool
Liverpool may have just found Luis Diaz replacement but transfer question lingers
Find the perfect present with our Liverpool books Christmas gift guide
Trent Alexander-Arnold sends three-word England message after World Cup exit
Five forwards Liverpool could target in January transfer window after double injury blow
