Liverpool have missed out on Kacper Kozlowski with Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion confirming an £8 million deal for the Poland international, as reported by The Guardian.
As the despicable Ramsay Bolton sneered during his reign of terror on Game of Thrones; “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”
This is a statement that can be applied to Liverpool’s pursuit of the so-called ‘new Kevin de Bruyne’. The signs were certainly there.
In December, Pogon Szczencin’s sporting director, Dariusz Adamczuk, confirmed that talks were underway regarding a deal that would see Kozlowski join a Premier League club during the winter window.
Liverpool, at the time, were rumoured to be leading the race for Kozlowski’s sought-after signature. But then Adamczuk threw a spanner in the works, suggesting that Anfield would not be Kozlowski’s destination after all.
“I think that, by making this choice, Kacper went in the direction that (he would not sign for) a top club,” Adamczuk added.
The implication, it seemed, was that Kozlowski had chosen a somewhat smaller club, one where regular first-team opportunities would be easier to come by.
And with Brighton confirming on Tuesday morning that an £8 million deal has now been agreed, Kozlowski has now become the third up-and-coming Polish starlet to put pen to paper with Graham Potter’s side since the summer of 2020.
Has Kacper Kozlowski made the right decision?
“He is a bright young talent and we’re very pleased to have completed the signing of Kacper, who has made a lot of progress in his career at a very early stage,” says technical director Dan Ashworth.
Kozlowski, who had been implored to stay at Pogon Szczencin by none other than Robert Lewandowski, will now join Belgian outfit Royale Union St-Gilloise on loan until the end of this season.
“His style of play suits us and our style,” adds Brighton boss Graham Potter. “During my time here, we have done very well in recruiting players for the future and Kacper is a similar signing.
“We will be watching with interest, as he is a very exciting young talent and a player I am really looking forward to working with in the future.”
In theory, Kozlowski should find opportunities easier to come by at Brighton than at Liverpool, even if Klopp’s midfield didn’t exactly cover itself in glory during Sunday’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Jakub Moder, Kozlowski’s compatriot, has featured in all but one of Brighton’s 19 league games this season.
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