Liverpool very nearly signed £50k-a-week Bournemouth player

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John Achterberg has shared a story of a goalkeeper Liverpool almost signed.

The goalkeeping coach played a big part in the Reds’ recruitment of new glovesmen during his time at Anfield, but a few of his recommendations didn’t quite get over the line.

Achterberg suggested Manuel Neuer to Liverpool at one point, but that deal didn’t get over the line, and speaking on the Aldo Meets Podcast, the coach has claimed that Liverpool very nearly signed Neto, the Bournemouth goalkeeper.

Achterberg says Liverpool were in for Neto when he was at Fiorentina, but they acted slightly too late on this deal and he ended up at Juventus instead.

Liverpool tried to sign Neto

Achterberg spoke about almost signing the £50k-a-week goalkeeper.

“You need to line-up a billion of them if you want a free one. We tried Neto, but we went too late. I told them already that Neto is at Fiorentina playing in Europe, and he would be free, but we went in January and he’d already signed for Juventus, but we went too late,” Achterberg said.

Neto would’ve been better than Loris Karius

Neto is far from being the best goalkeeper in the world, but he is a steady pair of hands.

Indeed, he’s played for some top clubs such as Juventus and Barcelona, and he’s been very important to Bournemouth over the last two years as well.

Neto wouldn’t have pulled up any trees at Anfield, but perhaps he would’ve been better than Loris Karius was around this time.

You’ll remember that Karius cost Liverpool the 2018 Champions League final with two high-profile mistakes, and perhaps that wouldn’t have happened if Neto had been in goal instead.

The Brazil international would’ve been a solid fit for Liverpool, and there may be some level of regret about not getting this deal done.