How Liverpool almost pulled off the bargain signing of the decade in 2016

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2016 was a different time. The world was stunned by the fact that Paul Pogba could cost Manchester United nearly £100 million. 18 Premier League clubs had a different record breaking transfer. Yet Liverpool almost sealed the bargain of the decade in the form of Christian Pulisic.

At the time, the Reds made a bid worth £11 million for the Borussia Dortmund youngster, according to The Times. Now the Mirror say that the American, who is still a teenager, could cost Chelsea, or Liverpool, as much as £65 million.

Two years ago, Pulisic was just breaking through into the Dortmund first team but Liverpool were confident of completing a deal for a player that Jurgen Klopp knew well from his time in Germany but it never came to fruition.

Since then, he has come on leaps and bounds and established himself in Bundesliga, playing 85 games, scoring 10 goals and registering 20 assists in the process.

“Moving to England? I think with soccer, you never really know what’s going to happen in your career – that’s the beauty of it. But right now, I’m with Dortmund and very happy. I’m earning my spot and working hard for that team.”

Pulisic discussing the speculation in December 2016.

Of course, we will never know how Pulisic may have developed had he moved to Anfield at the time. Mohamed Salah may never have joined had he developed as he has in Germany, but he may never have got the game time to reach the heights he has.

What is clear though, is that for a player to be worth six times what he was just 24 months ago, Pulisic could have been a sound business acquisition at the time.

With the Reds still reportedly keen to bring him to Merseyside, the waiting game could prove to be an expensive one, though they have not been given much choice by Dortmund. That said, he will be available on a free transfer in two years time if he doesn’t put pen to paper on a new contract. Then he really could be one of the best bargains in recent history.