DUJE CALETA-CAR has confirmed that Liverpool were keen to sign him last month but he decided to remain at Marseille.

The 24-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Anfield as Jurgen Klopp desperately looked to sign a centre-back due to their defensive crisis.

Liverpool eventually managed to bring in two centre-halves, though the club first tried in vein to bring the Croatia international to Merseyside.

Caleta-Car has established himself as one of Ligue 1's most talented defenders since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in 2018.

So it came as no surprise when the Premier League champions firmed up their interest with an offer.

And the four-time Austrian Bundesliga winner has declared it was an 'honour' to be chased by Liverpool, though he believed sticking at Marseille would prove key in his development.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's top-flight encounter against Nice, he told reporters: "Today, there is the Champions League, and I am going to watch the two games.

"I received an offer from Liverpool. It was an honour for me to know that such a club wanted me.

"We decided with the club that I was going to stay.

"Marseille is also a great club and I still have a lot of improving to do here.”

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After being turned down by Caleta-Car, Liverpool opted to bring in Ozan Kabak from Schalke on an initial loan deal.

And they also signed Ben Davies from Preston to fill their centre-back void with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all out injured.

Following Kabak's mix-up with goalkeeper Alisson in the defeat against Leicester on Saturday, it remains to be seen who will partner Jordan Henderson at the back against RB Leipzig tonight.

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