France-based journalist Jonathan Johnson told Monday’s Transfer Talk on Sky Sports that Aston Villa signing Morgan Sanson in January played a part in Liverpool not securing the signature of Duje Caleta-Car on deadline day.
Whilst there was a more relaxed mood in the Aston Villa offices on deadline day, those at Liverpool were frantically trying to get two deals over the line.
Names were swirling left, right and centre as to who the champions of England could sign, including Marseille defender Caleta-Car.
In the end, it was Preston’s Ben Davies and Schalke’s Ozan Kabak who landed on the Merseysiders doorstep.
But French outlet RMC Sport claimed that Caleta-Car was left devastated after Liverpool offered Marseille £20 million for their player, only for the deal to collapse.
And Johnson has shed light on how Marseille didn’t have to sell Caleta-Car because Sanson’s £14 million transfer to Villa Park [Sky Sports] weeks earlier helped take care of their short-term financial situation.
“Well, obviously Botman and Celta-Car of Lille and Marseille have been linked with Liverpool,” said Johnson. “It doesn’t look like either of those two will be on the move.
“I think the combination of Marseille selling Morgan Sanson to Aston Villa and loaning Radonjic to Hertha Berlin has taken care of their short-term financial packet.
“It means they can hold onto Caleta-Car for a bit longer.”
Well, not only did Caleta-Car not make the switch to Liverpool, but he may now have to do with a new manager at Marseille.
Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has offered his resignation after being critical of the club’s transfer dealing, as reported by BBC Sport.
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