10 Players Relieved They Didn't Sign For Liverpool

5. Mario Gotze

Mario Gotze has had quite a whirlwind few years. Having won two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich cynically announced virtually on the eve of their 2013 Champions League final clash with their German counterparts that they had triggered the £28 million release clause in his contract. He has gone on to win four more trophies with Bayern Munich, and even found time to cap off a fine debut season with the goal that won the World Cup for Germany. And all before the age of 23. The story goes, however, that Liverpool passed up the opportunity to sign the German prodigy in 2011, despite his Golden Boy Award, instead focusing on landing Jordan Henderson from Sunderland. While the English midfielder has gone on to become one of the club€™s best players following a poor start, Gotze has reached a whole new level. Perhaps Kenny Dalglish was away from the game for too long, but judging by his errors in the transfer market during his short second stint as Anfield boss, his eye for talent had clearly all but evaded him. While Philippe Coutinho, Lazar Markovic and the perennially exhausted Raheem Sterling fail to offer the imaginative flair or spark to a turgid and tepid Liverpool side this season, they might rue €˜King Kenny€™€™s decision to pass up the opportunity to sign the hottest young playmaker in the business.