Liverpool have put more focus on signing young talent in the last year or so, but they have failed to secure the services of Kennet Eichhorn.
The back end of last month saw the Merseyside outfit holding concrete talks for Eichhorn, with a deal thought to be close at the time.
It then emerged that Brexit rules could make a transfer difficult, at least if the Reds wanted to sign him before 2027.
But that does not matter now anyway, as Eichhorn has rejected a move because he is prioritising sporting development.
Which ONE player from the 2026 World Cup would you love to see Liverpool sign? ➡️✅
Sporting development more important to Liverpool target Kennet Eichhorn
The 16-year-old burst onto the scene in Germany this past season, playing 17 Bundesliga 2 games for Hertha.
He impressed in said outings, but if the defensive midfielder is going to continue developing, he will likely need to keep playing regular, senior football.
That is probably not something he would be afforded at Liverpool, making his decision to reject a move not that surprising.
Sky Sports Germany shared an update on the midfielder’s future, in which they revealed the Reds had offered the most money for his services.
They stated: “Liverpool aggressively pursued the top talent, offering more money than any of their German competitors. Eichhorn nevertheless decided against the move to England.
“For him, his sporting development is paramount. The player’s plan is to stay in Germany and prove himself at the highest level in the Bundesliga.”
Perhaps it could be a move Liverpool look to revisit in a few years when he is more likely to secure first-team football at Anfield.
But for now at least, the Reds are probably more keen to hand Trey Nyoni a more prominent role at the base of their midfield.
Andoni Iraola works well with youngsters, and after he played less than 90 minutes of league football under Arne Slot last term, it would not be surprising to see Nyoni featuring much more under the Spaniard.
He has impressed in his very brief outings during cup competitions in the last year, and given Liverpool’s lack of midfield depth right now, fans should want to see the youngster more frequently next term.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
