Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has long been a fan of Aston Villa centre-back Diego Carlos even before he moved to the Midlands last year.
Jurgen Klopp loves talent all over the pitch and rarely gives up as Liverpool manager.Often the only thing Klopp can be criticized for is not attracting enough of the outstanding talent he identifies.
Let’s take Diego Carlos as a good example. The centre-back has been highly rated by the Liverpool manager in 2020 and has been identified as someone who could complement the Reds’ defense alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Spanish outlet Sport claimed at the time that Liverpool were waiting for Carlos’ signature, but moved quickly when they learned of the €70m buyout clause in his Sevilla contract.
As a result, the Reds decided to look elsewhere.Virgil van Dijk, hero of Liverpool’s victory over Sheffield United – 5 takeawaysAs for Carlos, his stock has continued to rise, with the left winger’s post-Liverpool season the strongest of his Sevilla career.
When the transfer window opened in January 2022, a number of Premier League clubs were eyeing the Brazilian, including Newcastle and West Ham.
Five months later, Carlos moved to the Premier League as part of Steven Gerrard’s project at Villa Park. Upon his arrival, the centre-back was immediately named one of the club’s vice-captains.
But disaster soon struck and in the second Ligue 1 game against Villa, Carlos ruptured his Achilles tendon and had to undergo surgery that would have sidelined him for seven months .
Diego Carlos was once linked with a move to Liverpool before moving to Aston Villa.Diego Carlos was once linked with a move to Liverpool before moving to Aston Villa.
Former Sevilla manager Unai Emery took over when he was fit to play for the first team in the competition and Carlos now looks like the player Liverpool so desperately wanted three years ago.
Klopp could be furious after reading that the defender ended up costing Villa around €26m. Carlos is now part of Aston Villa, who are playing some of the best football the club has ever seen under Emery.
On Wednesday night, they demolished reigning champions Manchester City to move up to third in the table.
At 30, Villa have a technically gifted centre-back who could be a valuable asset in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Who knows what would have happened if he had arrived at Liverpool three years earlier?
