Reports this morning are suggesting that Liverpool did in fact make a deadline day transfer move for Anderlecht midfielder Samuel Bastien – who despite rumoured offers from Barcelona and Sevilla, as well as ourselves, ended up choosing Serie B side Avellino instead.
The Liverpool Echo‘s gossip column states that we offered £4m for the player, but implies that the 18-year-old wasn’t interested. Avellino president Walter Taccone was jubilant with his transfer success, having seemingly beaten out the challenge of the Champions League and Europa League winners from last season.
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He claimed: “Bastien has signed for Avellino…despite the lure of clubs such as Barcelona, Seville and Liverpool. There was contact with these clubs, but he decided to come to Avellino.”
Despite Taccone’s claims, it would be bizarre to think that Liverpool were in for a player who managed just one league appearance for his former employers, regardless of his apparent potential.
If, at that age, you’re not good enough to be playing in the Belgian Premier League ever week – it doesn’t suggest you’re going to be following in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling or Jordon Ibe out of the Liverpool academy.
So congratulations Taccone, we hope you enjoy your new player.