Jeremy Doku’s move to Liverpool never came to fruition after the young winger had a pivotal conversation with a club legend.

During the 2023 summer transfer window, Doku left French side Rennes for Manchester City in a deal reportedly worth £55 million.

Since then, the Belgian international has made 100 appearances across all competitions, scoring 17 goals, gradually proving why Pep Guardiola invested in him.

The Liverpool Opportunity That Never Was

Last weekend, Doku starred as Manchester City dismantled Liverpool 3-0 in the Premier League, but few remember that the winger nearly joined the Reds back in 2018.

At just 15, he was targeted by Liverpool, with then-manager Jürgen Klopp allowed to speak to him personally.

To entice Doku, Liverpool arranged meetings with key figures including under-18s boss Steven Gerrard, Gini Wijnaldum, and Sadio Mane, alongside a tour of the stadium, training ground, and even the school he would attend.

He was also gifted a signed Mohamed Salah shirt and met fellow players, including Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

However, it was Mane’s advice that played a decisive role. Doku later revealed to Ouest-France that Mane encouraged patience, telling him there was no need to rush his development. “He wasn’t trying to convince me to come to Liverpool,” Doku said. “He told me I was young and still had time. We talked about everything, but not football.”

Looking Ahead at Manchester City

With the Premier League resuming after the international break, Doku and Manchester City will face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, giving him another chance to shine at the Etihad.

While Liverpool may have missed out, Doku’s path under Guardiola is steadily unfolding, proving that sometimes patience and the right guidance are just as important as a transfer move.