Liverpool 'blew chance to sign Alisson for just £4m'
Liverpool spent a world record fee on a goalkeeper to bring Alisson to Anfield last week, but it has emerged they could have signed him for just £4 million in 2015.
The Brazil no.1 joined Liverpool for £67m from Roma in a move which more than doubled the previous record for a goalkeeper.
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But the Sunday Mirror report the Reds were offered a deal which would have seen them pay just £3.1m up front, and £900,000 in add-ons to sign the keeper from Brazilian club Internacional in July 2015.
UK-based intermediaries working on behalf of the player’s agent, Ze Maria Neis, were asked to secure a move to England.
Liverpool were one of several Premier League and Championship clubs who were sent a detailed scouting dossier outlining Alisson’s potential.
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Alisson reportedly told his advisers that England was his preferred destination. But there were no takers – despite assurances that the player’s German ancestry made him eligible for a European Union passport.
The age-group Brazil international was just three months away from making his senior debut in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela, and Internacional were keen to cash in on the keeper.
But Liverpool decided to pass on the move and Alisson eventually signed with Serie A club Roma in February 2016 for just £6.7m.
The revelation that the decision not to take a punt on Alisson three years ago has cost Liverpool a staggering £63million will shock the club and their fans.
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Liverpool have struggled to find a consistent goalkeeper since selling Pepe Reina in 2014, with Simon Mignolet and Lorius Karius both making high-profile errors in their time at Anfield.
After spending a season as understudy to Wojciech Szczęsny, the ex-Arsenal keeper’s move to Juventus opened the door for Alisson to make his breakthrough for I Giallorossi as they reached the Champions League semi finals last season.
