The reason we ‘dropped our interest’ was due to a legal difference in the understanding of his Champions League clause. We were in the qualifying rounds, but Saints were under the impression that the clause only related to teams in the group stage and so they decided to complain about us tapping him up (which is a stupid rule anyway, as it goes on in every transfer deal).
We then appologised to Southampton, and publicily dropped our interest so that we could go back in January once they had time to cool down.
The best case scenario: he stays at Dortmund for one more year and we see where we’re at then. It was never realistic to put all of club’s eggs into one basket, especially as everything is creaking at this point and we need much more than one player.
That said, it’s hard not to feel disappointed. I really admire him as both player and character but this is another blow in a series of blows in season that wouldn’t look out of place ten years ago or more.
He can want Liverpool or be open for Liverpool, but doesn’t mean that he’s against the other sides that will be in and able to pay what it takes. Let’s not clutch at straws here. Life goes on.
