Croatian defender confirms Liverpool wanted to sign him

Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car has confirmed that Liverpool made a move to sign him during the winter transfer window.

The Reds were desperately on the search for centre-backs on deadline day after the season-ending injuries for Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Caleta-Car was fancied to join them for around £20m but the deal collapsed as Les Phoceens did not have sufficient time to bring in a quality replacement.

The Croatia international has now revealed that the Reds made an approach for his services, but ultimately he decided to stay put with Marseille for the season.

"Today, there is the Champions’ League, and I am going to watch the two games, I received an offer from Liverpool,” he said in a pre-match press conference ahead of the Nice game. 

"It was an honour for me to know that such a club wanted me. We decided with the club that I was going to stay. Marseille is also a great club and I still have a lot of improving to do here."

The Reds strengthened the central defence before the deadline with the signings of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak (on loan) from Preston North End and Schalke 04 respectively.

Kabak had a disappointing debut against Leicester City where he was positionally poor and he will need to make a big improvement to turn his deal into a permanent one.

The Merseyside giants could return for Caleta-Car this summer. Les Phoceens may be tempted to sell him, given their financial woes amid the coronavirus pandemic.