Liverpool made a £21.5 million loan-to-buy bid for Braga defender David Carmo before signing Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies on transfer deadline-day, as reported by A Bola.
It is fair to say Braga fans had mixed feelings about the events of February 1.
While the sudden departure of centre-forward Paulinho to rivals Sporting Lisbon elicited a furious reaction among some supporters – with the home of president Antonio Salvador bearing the brunt of their frustration – things might have gone ‘all Marseille’ if Carmo had been sold as well.
Fortunately, president Salvador, whose house was vandalised in the wake of Paulinho’s sale, never planned to cash in on both Braga’s star men on the same day.
Liverpool put a serious bid on the table for 21-year-old Carmo, offering £3 million up front plus a further £17.5 million that would be paid at the end of the season if the Premier League champions decided to turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer.
Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit side turned to Kabak and Davies when it became clear that Braga were unwilling to sell, striking bargain deals with Schalke and Preston North End.
“He’s a young player with an excellent profile. He’s tall, strong and aggressive. Yes, he has all the conditions to play in the Premier League,” former Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers O Jogo after a Europa League clash between Leicester and Braga in the autumn.
Liverpool also made attempts to sign Duje Caleta-Car, Marcelo and Edmond Tapsoba before the 11pm deadline, according to reports.
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