What happened to Liverpool's weirdest-ever January signing four years on from bizarre transfer
Liverpool have been involved in some of the most memorable transfers in January transfer window history - but one signing was quickly forgotten about.
The likes of Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have all signed for the Reds in January.
Arne Slot's side may add to that business with another high-profile addition this time around - although they likely won't be targeting a new right-back until the summer.
Real Madrid reportedly launched a £20 million bid to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on New Year's Eve, which was promptly rejected by the Reds.
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Keeping the out-of-contract Alexander-Arnold at the club will be a major priority for the long-term and short-term, with the Reds eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
While their attack has been pivotal in their success so far this term, Liverpool also have the joint-best defence in the league having conceded just 17 goals from their 18 games.
Their backline is in an altogether more stable place than back in 2021, when Jurgen Klopp's side were dealing with an injury crisis.
Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk were all long-term injured, with only Nathaniel Phillips and youngster Rhys Williams available as natural centre-backs.
Klopp even pushed midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson into centre-back as cover, but it was clear that none of those options were going to be long-term solutions.
In an effort to plug the gap, the German boss decided to sign Ozan Kabak from Schalke, with the future Norwich defender signing on loan until the end of the season.
Kabak's time at Anfield wasn't particularly memorable, though he did make nine Premier League appearances and played a small role in helping Liverpool qualify for the following season's Champions League.
That is more than could be said for Ben Davies, who was signed from Championship side Preston North End for a fee believed to be in the six-figure range.
Davies had established himself as one of the best left-footed centre-backs in the EFL, and had entered the last six months of his contract at Deepdale.
North End would have hoped to renew that deal, but Davies - a boyhood Reds fan - received an offer from the 2020 Premier League champions and a transfer was quickly finalised.
Reacting to the move, Klopp stated that he saw the move as an 'opportunity' for Davies, and added: "We see the potential really. We see the quality and we see the potential as well because he's 25 and there's a lot to come for him.
"I love a lot about his play. He's a really good footballer, looks like a proper leader in this Preston team, good in challenges, looks football smart, can play different positions ... that makes him really interesting. I'm really looking forward to working with him."
As it turned out, though, Davies never made an appearance for Liverpool during the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
He subsequently spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Championship side Sheffield United, before the centre-back was sold to Scottish giants Rangers for an initial fee of £3 million - meaning Liverpool made a significant profit on a player that never played for them.
Davies was in and out of the Rangers team at the beginning of last season and, after suffering an injury in December 2023 that kept him out until February, didn't feature in a senior match until April.
Despite starting Rangers' opening Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts this season, he quickly fell out of favour again under manager Philippe Clement and was loaned out to newly-relegated League One side Birmingham City for the entire campaign.
He has been a key player for the big-spending Blues, making 19 appearances so far in all competitions and forming a solid defensive partnership with the £3.5 million former Southampton centre-back Christoph Klarer.
The now 29-year-old spoke about his unsuccessful move to Anfield three years after signing for Sheffield United.
He told the Blades' official website: "It's a move that you can never turn down. It was really exciting.
"The whole setup there is incredible. The club's like you wouldn't believe until you actually get in there and see it for yourself."
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp
Ryan Smart