Liverpool transfers: Reds return for player who REJECTED them 10 years ago

Liverpool are back in for a player they first tried to sign a decade ago. He rejected them back then - but maybe he’s changed his mind?

The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are looking at goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. The veteran is out of contract this summer, leaving Southampton after eight years.

There is some competition here, though. Both Celtic and Newcastle United are interested in McCarthy, who’s going to have his pick of clubs from the looks of it.

And the Reds are likely to be in the market for a goalkeeper. Adrian is at the end of his contract and at 37, it feels unlikely that he’ll get another one-year deal - especially under a new manager.

There’s also talk around Caoimhin Kelleher, who’s impressive performances could spark desire for first-team football going forward. Liverpool, then, need to rebuild their goalkeeping options - or at the very least, they need to draw up a shortlist.

And that has apparently seen them return for Alex McCarthy. He’s a player they’ve failed to sign before.

Liverpool failed to sign Alex McCarthy

Liverpool first tried to sign McCarthy back in 2014. They wanted a goalkeeper to rival Simon Mignolet and the then-24-year-old has played under manager Brendan Rodgers at Reading.

However, McCarthy chose Queen’s Park Rangers instead.

"At this moment in time, I think I made the right decision,” McCarthy said back in 2014.

"Obviously Liverpool historically are a massive club, but I wanted to go with QPR. I feel like I'm going to play more here and that was the reason."

It was a fine reason but the wrong one - McCarthy played just three times in the Premier League that season as QPR were relegated. He was sold to Crystal Palace the following summer but the move to London stalled his career.

It would be for another few years - and another transfer - before he found regular football at Southampton.

Though, Liverpool did reportedly come close to signing him in 2019, too. Mignolet left that summer, and the Liverpool Echo reported at the time that McCarthy was a strong contender to replace him.

They’d eventually sign Adrian on a free transfer, however. Now, though, McCarthy may finally get the chance to ‘fix’ his decision 10 years ago.