Supposed Target Turns Rumoured Liverpool Interest Into New Deal

Transfer rumours come in many shapes and sizes. Some are leaks by the club, tidbits shared with friendly journalists passed on to the fans. Others are simply made up, or a repetition of a repetition of a repetition that’s changed form a dozen times and now sustains itself with little concern for fact and reality.

Often, though, they come from the players themselves or from their agents and representatives. And they don’t always reflect a desire to move to whatever club it is that’s being mentioned. Often, the clubs being mentioned are a tool to get something the player does want, usually a better deal at his current club.

Such appears to be the case with Emil Forsberg, whose name came out of nowhere in January. A player off the radar for most, the breakout RB Leipzig attacker was suddenly meant to be one of Liverpool’s top attacking targets alongside the likes of Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, and Christian Pulisic.

Now, he’s signed a new deal with Leipzig. Given his previous was signed when Leipzig were in the 2. Bundesliga and they’re now second, four points off Bayern Munich, in Germany’s top flight, one can expect he’s received a decent raise. Some are spinning this as Liverpool’s interest having been thwarted.

Given the way his name came out of nowhere and the rumours were never substantiated by journalists with ties to Liverpool, it’s more likely there was no Liverpool interest to thwart. Forsberg and his agent simply wanted to incentivize Leipzig to give him a better wage, and to get the deal done in relatively short order.

Liverpool were used as a stick, a threat to motivate his current club. It has happened before, and it will happen again. Such is the way of transfer rumours and player negotiations.