Liverpool’s summer transfer business in 2024 left a lot to be desired in the eyes of the fanbase.
The Reds looked likely to be active in the market following the arrival of new head coach Arne Slot, but instead signed only Federico Chiesa.
Liverpool did of course get a deal over the line to bring Giorgi Mamardashvili to Anfield as well, but the Georgian remained at current club Valencia on-loan for the season.
Clearly, the Reds were interested in bolstering their goalkeeping department. Caoimhin Kelleher had been expected to leave and as a result they were on the lookout for a new number two.
Ultimately, Kelleher went nowhere, making Mamardashvili’s immediate arrival unnecessary.
However, it appears that Liverpool were actively trying to get a new back-up through the door in the early days of the window. According to Nantes goalie Anthony Lopes, that keeper was him, and he said no.
Anthony Lopes reveals Liverpool regret
Lopes was on the market last year after 11 years as Lyon’s starting goalkeeper. The arrival of Brazilian shot-stopper Lucas Perri meant he was no longer a certain starter for Les Gones.
And as the 34-year-old considered his future, he claims he was given the chance to join Liverpool in June.
“Did I say no to becoming Liverpool’s number 2? Yes, in June, I said no,” Lopes told French outlet Carre via Foot Mercato.
“I’ll be very clear: I didn’t have that option in mind at all. I told myself that I had to keep playing, that I had fire in my legs, and that I couldn’t put my key on the bench, even if it was at Liverpool, Bayern, or elsewhere.”
However, by August it was clear that Lopes was going to start the season as second choice at Lyon. As a result, the Euro 2016 winner has admitted that had Liverpool’s offer come later on, he would have taken it.
“I’ll be very clear: if this offer had come at the end of August, just before the end of the transfer window, I would have accepted it, I would have left,” he says. “I would have put my key on the bench, and I would have shut my mouth.”
Did Liverpool lose out with Lopes?
This is an interesting revelation from Lopes, because it very much suggests that Liverpool had fully planned for Kelleher to leave last summer.
There’s little chance that a player fresh off the back of 489 appearances at a club like Lyon would be arriving to be third choice at Anfield.
So, the Reds were obviously trying to get ahead of things and bring Lopes in as a number two.
Instead, Liverpool ended up with Kelleher as back-up and Mamardashvili secured as an option from 2025.
Consequently, while Lopes is a very good ‘keeper and would have been a decent back-up to Alisson Becker, we think this all worked out for Liverpool. Lopes stayed at Lyon until January, when his contract was terminated and he joined Nantes.
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