10 famous failed Liverpool transfers

#1 Gareth Barry

Rafa Benitez wanted to replace Xabi Alonso with Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry is not the biggest star in this list, but his failed transfer to Liverpool has to be on the top of the list for one big reason. Not only did Liverpool fail to sign the player, a move for Barry was a big reason behind Xabi Alonso’s departure.

In 2008, Rafa Benitez wanted to replace Alonso with Barry after the Spaniard had two injury-ridden seasons. However, the Anfield crowd was clearly in disagreement and voiced their opinion by chanting in favour of Alonso and against Barry.

The England international was also keen on moving to Liverpool and he was even fined two weeks wages by Aston Villa for giving a want-away interview. However, Liverpool’s troubled finances under then-owners Gillet and Hicks mean that the Merseyside club couldn’t finalise a deal.

Barry ended up staying at Villa for one more season while Alonso had his best season in Liverpool colours before moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. Liverpool attempted to sign Barry again in 2009 to replace Alonso but he opted to move to the now cash-rich Manchester City.

"I met the City manager Mark Hughes in a hotel. He emphasised the ambition of the owners. He described it as a speeding train and his advice was to jump on."

"I also spoke to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool but he didn't completely convince me. He said he wanted me to come in, play left-back, left-midfield, centre midfield. That's what I'd done at Villa, it wasn't for me any more."

In 2017, Steven Gerrard also said that he was against the idea of replacing Alonso with Barry.

“He (Benitez) wanted to move Xabi on and bring in Gareth, now, for me, that wasn’t the right move, although I’m a big fan of Gareth Barry.

“I’d rather have him in to play alongside Xabi because I think they could have worked together.

“I don’t think it was the right move from a Liverpool point of view to replace Xabi with Gareth. The fans love Xabi, he’s a world-class player, and for me, Rafa should have been doing everything to keep him and not have him move on.”