Former Liverpool coach reveals club icon only joined due to FAILED Nabil Fekir transfer

Former Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has revealed how Nabil Fekir's infamous failed move to Anfield helped the Reds sign a current legend. 

Achterberg joined Liverpool all the way back in 2009 but followed Jurgen Klopp out of the exit door this summer, securing a move to Al Ettifaq to work with Steven Gerrard.

The Dutchman has been speaking to The Football Historian Podcast recently following his Anfield departure, even launching a foul-mouthed attack on eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

But Achterberg has also revealed the major upside of Liverpool's failed pursuit of Fekir back in the summer of 2018.

NABIL FEKIR TRANSFER SAGA

The former Lyon attacking midfielder was incredibly close to joining Liverpool in 2018. Fekir had even completed a medical ahead of a £53m switch.

But the deal collapsed at the last minute, initially attributed to a problem with Fekir's knee discovered during the medical.

However, Fekir has since revealed that it was actually an issue with his agent that prevented the move, stating: "I saw plenty of things which weren’t true. It was said the knee stopped me going to Liverpool but that wasn’t true.

"I went to Clairefontaine [France’s football centre near Paris], and they did all the proof [medical] and the knee was fine.

"I had a problem with my agent, my adviser. It was the agent [who was] responsible for the deal not going through."

Despite Fekir's desire to move to Merseyside, he instead joined up with Real Betis a year later - where he is now teammate to former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian.

FAILED NABIL FEKIR MOVE ENABLED ALISSON TRANSFER

According to Achterberg, Liverpool's decision not to sign the France midfielder allowed them to recruit Alisson instead, one of the most revolutionary pieces of business in the club's recent history.

"Both had their issues in pre-season," Achterberg said of former Liverpool goalkeepers Danny Ward and Loris Karius when discussing Alisson's £67m move to Anfield.

"That's why also it was decided that we needed a new goalie. But it was also all pieces falling together because if you would have signed Fekir, then there was no money to sign Ali.

"So, we were lucky that that deal fell through and then I said, 'Okay boss, we have to be quick now because Chelsea for sure want to sign Ali too'. They will sell [Thibaut] Courtois to [Real] Madrid, so we have to do it before and that's what happened."

While Fekir likely would have been a great addition to the Liverpool squad, there is no denying that the Reds were fortunate that a deal broke down.

After all, Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers the club has ever had, helping the Reds reach lofty heights during the Jurgen Klopp era.