:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27825231/188121920.0.jpg)
The clock struck eleven in England. The transfer window closed. And still nobody knew what had happened when it came to Liverpool's efforts to capture Dnipro's Ukrainian international Yevhen Konoplyanka. In the end, when the news finally did trickle out, Liverpool fans didn't get the answer they were hoping for.
FIFA's transfer system had struggled to cope with the volume of deals on deadline day, giving Liverpool some leeway when it came to having any move officially confirmed by football's governing body and giving fans reason to hope news of the deal being completed might come in the hours following the deadline.
Instead, fans belatedly learned the two clubs had failed to agree on how the payment of Konoplyanka's transfer fee would break down. Despite having passed a medical in the hours leading up to the deadline and with all parties hoping a compromise could be reached, in the end negotiations stalled and failed.
A fee believed to be just over £16M with the Dnipro and wages just shy of £60k a week with player are believed to have been agreed. However, the two clubs couldn't agree on what portion of the fee would be paid immediately. Agent fees and compensation for Konoplyanka's representatives were also a sticking point.
With the player having 18 months remaining on his contract and showing no intention of signing a new deal to stay at Dnipro, there's always a chance Liverpool could go back in for him in the summer. For now, though, to say it's not the ending to the transfer window fans would have hoped for is an understatement.
Not only have the club failed to land their latest potential marquee signing in Konoplyanka this month, but they also spent two and a half months negotiating for Mohamed Salah only to lose him to Chelsea. They also failed to bring in desperately needed help in midfield or at fullback.
If the club don't make it back into the top four, many will point to the club's January failings as the reason why. Even if they do make the top four, questions will be asked. Even if they make the top four, those responsible for the club's very public failings of late must be held to account.
