World Cup winning midfielder says he nearly signed for Liverpool and Arsenal at one stage

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Liverpool have had their fair share of transfer near misses over the years.

Just last summer, Liverpool tried to sign Martin Zubimendi, and now, Zubimendi looks set for Arsenal instead, while, in the past, Liverpool nearly signed Sol Campbell from Tottenham at one point, while Edwin van der Sar almost joined Liverpool too.

Now, a former World Cup-winning midfielder has shared how he almost signed for Liverpool too.

Indeed, speaking to the BBC, Sami Khedira has spoken about why he never came to the Premier League,.

The German says that he always wanted to come to England, and a deal was close a few times as he spoke to Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but, for some reason, a deal couldn’t be done.

Arsenal were linked with Khedira years ago, and it seems as though there was substance to those links.

• READ MORE: ‘Rapid’ £33m defender who has agreed Liverpool move says he almost signed for them as a kid

Sami Khedira nearly joined Liverpool and Arsenal

Khedira spoke about almost coming to the Premier League.

The former Real Madrid man says that he spoke to Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea at certain points in his career, claiming that he did want to come to England.

“Honestly, if you’re talking about a dream, it was one of my biggest dreams to play for an English club in the Premier League,” Khedira said.

“I played for two German clubs, an Italian club, a Spanish club so why not England? You have to ask the clubs.

“I spoke to Liverpool, I spoke to Chelsea, I spoke to Arsenal, all amazing clubs, we were close a few times.”

Sami Khedira’s only game against Liverpool

Sami Khedira spent over a decade as a top-level player for both Real Madrid and Juventus, but he only ever faced Liverpool once in his career.

Indeed, Khedira only played against Liverpool once in what was a 3-0 win at Anfield in 2014.

Khedira was a notable absentee for the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu, but there was a more notable absentee in that match.

Indeed, Steven Gerrard was famously benched for Liverpool in that game, and that decision ultimately played a part in Gerrard leaving Anfield, as he stated on the High Performance Podcast.

“I was aware of my age and stuff, but I still believed that I could have contributed in a strong way to that team and to that club and I think if them sitiuations, Madrid away and Man United at home.

“I think if things were different, or went different for me I believe I would have stayed for another year,” Gerrard said.

“I just do, I think them experiences and them disappointments push you towards maybe it is time to move on and do something different whereas if you’re starting them games and you still feel like you’re an important player and you’re starting and stuff, maybe you think it’s not time, and maybe you stay.”

In another world, it could’ve been Khedira who replaced Gerrard in Liverpool’s midfield that summer, but, sadly for the German, he never got the chance to play in the Premier League.