USA captain Aaron Long admits he still dreams of playing in Europe after reports linked the New York Red Bulls centre-back with Liverpool, speaking to MLS Soccer.
It seems Long will have to wait a little, well, longer before he boards a flight across the Atlantic.
Because after ESPN claimed Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League champions were eyeing a shock loan deal for the late-blooming 28-year-old, it seems Liverpool are looking elsewhere on deadline day.
Ben Davies, of Preston North End, and Schalke’s Turkey international Ozan Kabak should be posing for photos in front of the Kop by tonight’s 11pm deadline.
Long, then, looks set to spend the next few months in New York after a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slipped through his fingers. Although the USMNT skipper isn’t the kind of player who gives up easily.
“I don’t want to play the hypothetical,” he says. “I definitely said my goals and aspirations are to hopefully one day be in Europe. I’m not going to put a timeline on it by any means.
“I don’t want to say that’s where I need to be by a certain date because, if that doesn’t happen, have I failed my goal?
“Hopefully, if the cards fall that way, I’ll get that experience (playing in Europe). But if not, I’m a New York Red Bull player and I’m going to do my best to win a trophy with the club.”
Liverpool were also linked with Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car and Braga powerhouse David Carmo, while long-time target Dayot Upamecano is now expected to end up at Bayern Munich.
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