5 transfer targets Liverpool missed out on under FSG

There is no doubt Liverpool are high spenders in the Premier League. In fact, they recently crossed a billion pounds worth of transfer fees in the past 25 years when they signed Mohamed Salah.

Money was spent under different owners but none of it succeeded in fetching the elusive Premier League title. This scenario has not changed under current owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) as well.

Since taking over in 2010, they have overseen several areas of growth including financial stability and an expansion of Anfield. However, the team have won only one trophy, the League Cup in 2012, under them.

A raft of managers have come and left in the past seven years. Current manager Jurgen Klopp is the most reputed of the lot and there has been consistent progress under him. Finishing 4th last season gave Liverpool the opportunity to sign elite players.

The pursuit of Naby Keita of RB Leipzig and Virgil van Dijk of Southampton for transfer fees in excess of €70 million shows intent. However, neither of the deals look like being completed anytime soon and FSG have a history of losing out on targets in the past seven years.

Thus, let's take a look at the 5 top transfer targets Liverpool missed out under their ownership so far.

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#5 Clint Dempsey

Liverpool failed to sign Clint Dempsey as Tottenham snatched him up

In the summer of 2012, FSG replaced Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish with then Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers. The owners gave the manager £20 million along with money raised through sales as the transfer kitty.

Rodgers signed Joe Allen, Fabio Borini, Oussama Assaidi and 18-year-old striker Samed Yesil. Further, Nuri Sahin arrived on loan from Real Madrid.

On the departures front, then club-record signing Andy Carroll left on loan to West Ham leaving only two recognised forwards at the club in Borini and Luis Suarez.

Rodgers wanted to rope in Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey, who had had a career-best season, scoring 23 goals in the previous campaign. However, Fulham claimed Liverpool offered only £3 million stating that the American was 29 years old then.

Dempsey reportedly rejected Aston Villa, who agreed a £5 million fee plus add-ons. However, Liverpool did not increase their bid and instead were forced to apologize to the London club for claiming that the deal was done, on their official website.

Finally, Jordan Henderson was offered as a part of the deal but he decided against moving away and is now the captain of the side. Thus, Dempsey was a top target that got away and the pain was compounded when Tottenham signed him for £7 million plus add-ons on deadline day.

#4 Mohamed Salah

Chelsea beat Liverpool to Salah's signature

It may come as a surprise to many but Liverpool courted Salah four years ago, in 2013. In fact, he was the top target for Rodgers in the 2014 January transfer window.

Salah was rated highly at Swiss side Basel when Liverpool first registered their interest in October of 2013. He looked to have the pace and guile to complement Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling, who were leading a title charge.

However, Liverpool failed to sign the player in January with club CEO Ian Ayre stating they would not overpay and the player did not want to come. On the other hand, Salah's agent claimed later that Liverpool negotiated for three months, increasing from £5 million to £7 million. Salah himself confirmed the same later.

Chelsea, meanwhile, swooped in and completed an £11 million deal in a day to add to Liverpool's woes. Salah failed to make an impact at Chelsea though.

After spending over two years in Italy, the Egyptian is now at Liverpool for a price thrice as high.

#3 Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a big miss for Liverpool in 2013

The 2013 transfer window saw Liverpool target Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian was one of the best young talents in Europe and considered to be a perfect creative spark for Suarez and Sturridge.

However, there was complication over ownership rights and the deal got delayed. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund entered into negotiations with the player. Slowly, Liverpool lost their grip on matters and in the end, then Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp signed him.

Mkhitaryan himself clarified in an interview that he was unsure about moving to England at the time. Subsequently, when he spoke to Klopp, he felt comfortable going to Germany and hence made his decision.

Thus, Liverpool missed out on another top player who could have helped them cross the line and win the Premier League that season.

Mkhitaryan eventually made a name for himself at Dortmund before joining Liverpool's rivals Manchester United last year.

#2 Diego Costa

Diego Costa was persuaded by Jose Mourinho to snub Liverpool

In the same summer of 2013, Liverpool tried to sign Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa. In order to make up for missing out on Mkhitaryan, the Reds triggered Costa's £21.8 million release clause.

There were expectations that the deal would be completed soon given the release clause was met. However, Costa chose to sign a new contract with Atletico Madrid and signed for Liverpool's rivals Chelsea the next summer.

In a recently released biography, "Diego Costa: The Art of War", by Fran Gillen, there is a mention as to why Costa turned down Liverpool. The reason turned out to be Chelsea's then manager Jose Mourinho.

As per the book, Mourinho convinced the striker and Atletico to wait for 12 months, clarifying that Chelsea would pay more to secure his services later on. Eventually, this convinced the Brazilian-born attacker to stay put at Atletico for another season, following which he moved to Chelsea, winning two titles with them.

As he gets ready to return to Atletico, it is a case of another potential top player missed out under FSG.

#1 Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez was supposed to be a part of the Luis Suarez transfer.

The sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona in 2014 was a predestined one after the drama of the 2013 summer. The Liverpool no.7 took the Reds to the brink of Premier League glory before getting ready to depart to Spain

The transfer meant Alexis Sanchez would be sold by Barcelona to make way for Suarez. At that point, the Chilean looked like the closest replacement to the Uruguayan with his work ethic, creativity and goal threat similar to that of Suarez.

As then Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre clarified recently in a lecture series, the deal was in place for Liverpool to sign Sanchez. However, once Arsenal indicated their interest, Sanchez opted for the North London club.

The reason for being that he and his wife preferred living in London over Liverpool.

Liverpool stuttered badly with main striker Sturridge constantly injured while Sanchez became one of the best players in the league.

While this transfer failed due to geographical reasons, it was, nevertheless, another top player missed.