Fenerbahce forward Max Kruse has revealed that he rejected a move to Liverpool before deciding to move to Turkey this summer.
The German international moved to Fenerbahce at the end of June, signing a three-year deal to put an end to his three-year spell at Werder Bremen, where he scored 35 and assisted a further 31 goals in 94 appearances.
Kruse admitted in an interview with BeIN Sports, that he chose Fenerbahce over the Champions League winners saying, “During the transfer period, I’ve received lots of offers and one of them was Liverpool.”
“But I decided to join Fenerbahce because I believe I will be very happy there.”
The Reds were reported by the Daily Star in June to be in talks with the 31-year-old, who became a free-agent after letting his Werder Bremen contract run out.
OPINION
This isn’t exactly the end of the world for Liverpool, who will have been hoping to sign Kruse in a move to have experience on the bench ready to replace one of the Reds’ front three should they be missing through injury or suspension. Rhian Brewster has been given the chance to shine at Liverpool, with him now being the second in line behind Divock Origi to make an impact off the bench at Anfield next season. There is no doubting Kruse’s talent, and the fact he was a free-agent was most likely the only reason Klopp was interested in the 31-year-old. The experienced German was involved in 20 goals in his 32 league appearances last season, with his physicality a big part of his game – Kruse averaged an impressive 2.8 shots per game as well as 2.6 passes [WhoScored], proving that he can score but also create chances for teammates to score. The German would have helped bring more players into the final third at Liverpool, but only if he was given consistent minutes – something that wouldn’t be guaranteed by Klopp.
