Marseille star confirms Liverpool bid

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 1 min read

Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car has confirmed that Liverpool made a bid for him during the January transfer window.

The Premier League champions have been ravaged by defensive setbacks this season, losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to long-term injuries.

As a result, Liverpool were forced into the January transfer market to sign some centre-backs, and they eventually brought in Ben Davies from Preston and Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke.

But Liverpool also put in a bid for Marseille stopper Caleta-Car, but the transfer couldn’t be completed as the French side didn’t have enough time to find a replacement.

“Today, there is the Champions League and I am going to watch the two games. I received an offer from Liverpool,” said Caleta-Car.

“It was an honour for me to know that such a club wanted me. We decided with the club that I was going to stay.

“Marseille is also a great club and I still have a lot of improving to do here.”

The 24-year-old joined Marseille from Red Bull Salzburg in 2018 for €19 million.

While at Salzburg he played with current Liverpool-owned players Takumi Minamino and Naby Keita.