Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Will Not Be Signing Franck Ribéry

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It’s a weird summer.

Did you wake up this morning and find yourself thinking “Huh, I wonder if Liverpool will sign Franck Ribéry this summer?”

No?

Well don’t worry, l’Équipe are on the case!

The French magazine make some bizarre claims. First of all, Ribéry is looking for a new club after being released by Bayern. Which, duh. Next, that apparently Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is a fan of his. Considering Klopp’s Dortmund sides faced the Frenchman at the peak of his powers, this is not a huge shock.

Now, apparently, Klopp was interested in bringing Ribéry to Anfield on a free transfer, but the decision has been made that another wide forward is not necessary. We have questions.

First of all, are these positions really locked down. Rhian Brewster looks to be more involved with the first team, yes, but Daniel Sturridge has left the club. Maybe Klopp is entirely happy with his forward options. But the idea that this has changed since the start of the summer strikes us as less than obvious.

Next up, why Ribéry? The man is 36 years old. He is always injured. It is of no doubt that Ribéry was a genuine star of a player, someone who could walk into any team in the world, several years ago. But now? This feels totally out of character with everything Liverpool generally do. His wage demands would also likely be fairly steep.

This has the hallmark of any questionable Liverpool transfer story in that it frames Klopp as the decision maker. Klopp isn’t the one meeting players, putting together lists of targets, and such. Michael Edwards does those things. And nothing feels less Edwards than a free transfer for Franck Ribéry.

Look, it’s been a bizarre summer. Liverpool have done almost nothing in the transfer market, and it doesn’t feel like there are any huge deals about to happen. So we get this. The sooner the window closes, the better.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com