So, the British transfer record has been broken again, this time by Declan Rice’s switch from West Ham to Arsenal, but Liverpool might well be kicking themselves that they steered clear of making a bid.
Former West Ham captain, Rice, ended his tenure at the London Stadium in the best possible way, by lifting the east Londoners first major trophy in 43 years.
It underscored his leadership of the first-team over the past few seasons and would only have enhanced his suitability to the Gunners.
That said, he would certainly have been a superb addition to the Liverpool midfield too, but as The Athletic (subscription required) noted, the Reds stayed away, not even contacting the Rice family, because they were still in negotiations for Jude Bellingham and didn’t want to irk his representatives.
In the end of course, Bellingham went on to sign for Real Madrid and Liverpool were made to look a little foolish.
The Reds should be applauded for their capture of Alexis Mac Allister of course, but Jurgen Klopp would surely have liked the opportunity to work with Rice, particularly when it became clear that his international colleague, Bellingham, was moving to the Spanish giants.
In any event, that’s all in the past now and Liverpool will need to look forward rather than back. Klopp will attempt to work his magic again and if the Reds can find their form of a couple of season’s ago, whose to say they won’t finish above the Gunners anyway.
Liverpool had no chance of signing Rice as he wanted Champions League football . Once a team falls down to being a fringe team signings can become impossible .
What a typical irrelevant article written by ignorant rival fans. Their recent two signings has already proven how they had and continue to sign players with value and vastly more potential despite being out of the champions league.
‘Fringe team’! Mister Baker, you are either a blind football fan, or knowingly baiting people, or a total moron.
Klopp explicitly said he wouldn’t be blowing his entire budget on one player – getting Rice would’ve pretty much done that. Liverpool also managed to land Szoboszlai without Champions League. So your point was?…
Anyway, consider me reeled in!
the same arsenal who did not win anything this season ? going to get knocked out the group stages of the champions league next season ? overhyped player from a small team to a team of bottlers who had a good run cos spurs chelsea and liverpool had very poor seasons ?man u newcastle and arsenal are going to get found out big time next season.
Your comment shows your grief🤣🤣🤣🤣.
If a team has a bad or poor performance for a whole season, than it surely means they ain’t good enough to be at the Top.
The real bottlers are the teams who were expected to contest for the League but BOTTLED IT.
I sense a hint of bitterness mate or is it envy
Spurs have been bottling it for the last 50 years, Liverpool will not be the same powerhouse without Salah, Chelsea have had their time, other teams have their money now, Newcastle will just be in the mix.
Next season is out of City, Utd & Arsenal with Chelsea possibly being around.
And Arsenal didn’t bottle anything, they had major injuries to their main defenders without quality depth. Without those injuries City may not have caught them.
Obviously your knowledge of football is very limited.
Arsenal didn’t win anything but were better than Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool and the fact they had a poor season shows the progress of Arsenal from what it was previously. And that’s part of the game, you capitalise on others’ misfortunes
thanks for your comedy contribution
Will he leave if Arsenal don’t qualify next season then?
If or when….?
Given the firepower of the likes of Citeh, Newcastle, Spuds, Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool, do Arsenal make top 4 again???
🤡🤡🤡🤡
LFC Kicking themselves? It sounds more like they stayed clear because the price was too much. If Rice was Spanish he’d struggle to get into the national side and be valued at around 35 million.
That’s ur weird opinion am duré u aren’t a fan of English football
It’s just reality pal, Rice doesn’t make the Spain first 11, he’s lucky if he’s on the bench.
Spain 🇪🇸,?hmm
The bottom line is Rice and Bellingham were overpriced. Arsenal have bought a good player in rice but have paid through the nose for it. Madrid throws around money on players like a drunk gambler in a casino.
You comments are objective.
Thanks for pointing out the obvious.
Hi guys, remember the Pepe & TIMO Warner
Saga?
“Liverpool were made to look a little foolish.”
No NEWS here then !
Of course Liverpool weren’t going to sign £250mil. of midfield, They’re in the Europa League, haven’t and don’t look like they are going to win anything anytime soon…
The reply to this clown is best given in May 2024…..
I don’t see why Liverpool were made to look foolish, they just didn’t buy those players. It looks more foolish when you pay top money for players that don’t perform, and when you pass up on cheaper players that turn into top stars..
Rice and Bellingham now have to live up to 100 million pound players. Let’s see them do that before we call teams that didn’t invest in them foolish.
What a joke of an article. We wouldn’t pay the money for Bellingham, so why would we pay more for Rice.
I hope these guys don’t get paid for these.
Realistically why would anyone pay such a huge transfer fee, after all their are many better midfielders plying their skills around football, better players even in Britain, everyone has their favourites I can think of 3 midfielders (off the top of my head) I would rather have playing for my club instead of Rice regardless of the fee what a travesty
That is nice for arsenal
Madrid’s signing of Bellingham is strange. They have so many midfielders. Ok, two are “old” and need replacements soon. But when you pay that much, you expect to play the player. Bellingham may regret signing but the $ is probably good.
Rice is expensive too. He will be very good. will he be good enough to justify the fees and salaries? Time will tell.
I don’t think that Liverpool will look foolish. But I do think that they need to take a bit of risk especially since the South American market has new opportunities.