EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool did not rival Arsenal for Aubameyang due to Klopp's bad-boy 'worries' - 7M sport

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool did not rival Arsenal for Aubameyang due to Klopp's bad-boy 'worries'

LIVERPOOL steered clear of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January due to his off the field antics.


Posted Wednesday, February 07, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk

That is the view of Reds legend Mark Lawrenson.

Arsenal signed the striker from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day for a club-record £56m after prolonged negotiations over a fee.

Liverpool had the chance to enter the race, which would have reunited Jurgen Klopp with Aubameyang.

But the Reds' German manager opted against bringing the 28-year-old Bundesliga star to Anfield.

Money was not the issue for Liverpool, especially following the £142m sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

Lawrenson instead insists the reason behind Arsenal's lack of competition for Aubameyang is due to his bad-boy reputation.


EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool did not rival Arsenal for Aubameyang due to Klopp's bad-boy 'worries'
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is already off the mark for Arsenal

The Gabon international has gained a reputation for his love for the high life and eccentric behaviour away from football, which contributed towards Dortmund offloading him.

And on whether Liverpool should have rivalled Arsenal for Aubameyang, Lawrenson told Starsport: "I am a big fan of his, but it's never been suggested that Klopp was interested in him.

"So that to me suggests that Klopp thinks he's a really good player but off the pitch he's hard work and Klopp doesn't like that.

"Look at Sakho, in the pre-season tour of America a couple of years ago he was messing around a bit and was late for a couple of team meetings and things like that and Klopp just went, bang, no, you're gone.

"So in Aubameyang I think Klopp looked and said 'no, you're a good player but not in my squad.'

"He's the manager and he makes those decisions.

"He's one of those players that managers worry about 24 hours a day because they get up to all sorts, as we know, some of it good and some of it bad."

Aubameyang bagged a debut goal for Arsenal on Saturday, finishing off a through ball from former Dortmund team-mate Mkhitaryan in a 5-1 win over Everton.

Liverpool could still be caught by the sixth-placed Gunners in the Premier League this season, with Klopp's side six points ahead in third spot.

A reunion for Klopp and Aubameyang will have to wait until next term, though, as Liverpool and Arsenal will not face each other again in any competition in the current campaign.

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