Former Werder Bremen striker Max Kruse has claimed he had rejected offers from Liverpool before opting to move to Fenerbahce this summer.
Max Kruse was a wanted man prior to his move to Fenerbahce this summer, and the striker claims Liverpool were one of the clubs vying for his signature – as reported by Daily Mirror. He further informed that he snubbed a move to Anfield in favour of a transfer to the Turkish Super Lig outfit.
“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. I spoke with a lot of players during that period, and I am happy about my decision.”, the German told beIN Sports Turkey.
Kruse was initially a free agent earlier this summer, having left Werder Bremen following the end of his contract last season. He had enjoyed a productive spell with the Grun Weissen, scoring 35 goals and providing 31 assists in just under 100 competitive matches. Eleven of those goals came in the league last season as Bremen achieved a top-half finish for the first time in almost a decade.
A move to Fenerbahce makes sense for the German international, who, it seems, is still keen on getting regular opportunities in the first team. And at Fener, he could become the club’s central striker following the departure of Roberto Soldado to Granada.
The Efsane have struggled in domestic competitions, of late, notably finishing sixth in the league last season. They ended up as the lowest-scoring team among the top six. And with both Soldado and Mathieu Valbuena leaving the club this summer, the addition of Kruse will serve as a breath of fresh air for manager Ersun Yanal.
Liverpool, in contrast, would have likely made Kruse a deputy to Roberto Firmino. But, at the same time, the 31-year-old would have had the opportunity of playing in the UEFA Champions League – a competition he hasn’t been a part of since the 2015-16 campaign with VfL Wolfsburg.
Missing out on the striker might also be a massive blow for Jurgen Klopp, who, as mentioned earlier, could have used him as a backup for Firmino. Besides, the German international could have also provided competition to Divock Origi.
Kruse already has vast experience at the highest level of football, and his ingenuity and craft in the final third would have added another dimension to the Liverpool attack. But in the meantime, it will be interesting to see if Kruse can succeed in the Turkish Super Lig next season, with Liverpool not signing him.
