Liverpool reportedly made a legitimate attempt to sign Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas, who was a target for the Reds.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the North Macedonia international was subject to strong interest from the Premier League giants this summer, with RB Leipzig also interested in Elmas.
As per the report, a €30m (£25m) package was discussed between Liverpool and Napoli for the midfielder, though the Serie A side ultimately decided to not sell Elmas given his importance to the club.
The 23-year-old was key to Napoli’s historic Scudetto triumph last campaign, with pundit Robert Earnshaw lauding Elmas as a ‘magic’ player.
Indeed, Elmas would have suited what Liverpool were looking for the summer. And given his title-winning credentials, the midfielder could have added a lot that the Reds have been lacking in the squad.
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However, Napoli’s desire to keep hold of Elmas makes plenty of sense, and Liverpool’s moves for the likes of Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch ultimately capped off a good window for the Reds.
Elmas could have been sensational for Liverpool
Elmas would have been quite the signing for Liverpool after the midfielder’s achievements for both club and country last season.
Yet with Napoli opting to keep the midfielder, Liverpool did well to respond to missing out on Elmas with moves for the aforementioned Endo and Gravenberch.
Still, Elmas would have been an incredible signing for Liverpool, with the North Macedonian star exactly what the Reds were looking for in a new midfield addition.