Ian Graham shares how close Liverpool came to signing Son Heung-min in 2015

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Liverpool have just embarked on one of the biggest summer spending sprees in world football.

The Reds spent approximately £418 million on new talent, signing two of the most expensive players in Premier League history, while recouping around £190 million from player sales.

It has certainly been a long time coming for the Liverpool faithful, who have long called out owners Fenway Sports Group while their Premier League rivals have consistently outspent the club in recent years.

The club-record signing of Alexander Isak on deadline day culminated in a summer founded on building upon Arne Slot’s title success last season and looking towards establishing a dynasty at Anfield.

Liverpool signed Christian Benteke over Son Heung-min in 2015

However, the well-run Reds took years to reach this stage, as former director Ian Graham reflected on the Men in Blazers YouTube channel when the club’s old transfer committee considered signing Son Heung-min.

“Heung-min Son, one of my favourite players, in an alternative timeline, Son and Firmino would be Liverpool’s frontline – you know the old match and align transfer committee, our one and two choices were Firmino and Son for our two strikers. But Son was cruelly sent to Spurs, and we got Christian Benteke instead.

“Different style of player, which is fine, you know the manager wanted that style of player at the time. But Son is, along with Messi, one of the best finishers, and it took us two years to increase his shot placement skill by 10%.

“And we took another two years to increase it by another 20%. So, like the best finisher because it’s such a noisy process and so few players can consistently do it, it took us a long time to upgrade him.

“And even, you know, being the best in the world, he’s kind of 20-30% better at placing those shots.”

Liverpool manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, opted to sign Christian Benteke in 2015, a decision which ultimately backfired as the Belgian endured a torrid spell at Anfield.

Son left Spurs for LAFC this summer after ten years in North London, during which he established himself as one of the most prolific forwards in the Premier League.

The 33-year-old notched 127 goals and 77 assists in 333 outings for Tottenham, and while he chose to end his career in England following Spurs’ Europa League triumph, Son’s “brilliant” performances in the MLS prove he has not lost his goalscoring touch.

Jurgen Klopp regretted not signing Son Heung-min for Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp reportedly reignited the Reds’ interest in signing Son in the summer of 2022 prior to Darwin Nunez’s move to Anfield.

The Reds never managed to convince the South Korean international to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Klopp admitted not signing Son was one of his biggest regrets.

“One of the biggest mistakes in my life was not signing him (Son),” Klopp told KBS News, after Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1 in North London.

“Outstanding, world-class, and one of the best strikers in the world. I heard he’ll be alright. Maybe need to wear a mask, but even with a mask, he’ll be alright.”