Liverpool have decided against making a move for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar when the transfer window reopens, according to reports in the English media.
The likes of Manchester City and Arsenal have also been linked with the 21-year-old, but the Reds were said to be prepared to pay £40m for the player until very recently.
However, the impact of the global health crisis has led to the Merseysiders reassessing their transfer strategy and fans on Twitter are disappointed by the change in stance on Aouar:
Fsg are pure greed
— MOLO *️⃣*️⃣*️⃣ (@_shameless_man) May 2, 2020
I don’t understand why we can’t buy players we’ve made so much money with winning champs league world club championship plus players leaving this year… ?
— Tony (@tony_lfc89) May 2, 2020
And what happened to the Millions we havnt spent in previous windows? Cant blame covid on everything that's weird
— Chris* (@Chris5lfc68) May 2, 2020
Clear out some fringe players an buy them.
— Hasta Mithun Dada (@BadalSarkar06) May 2, 2020
They must take advantage of the opportunity, since houssem wants to play in liverpool
— Juan Esteban Blandon (@juanes5102) May 2, 2020
Mehnnn
I’d be so happy
This is one transfer I’ve always wished for— Fw. Me (@BayowaO) May 2, 2020
Lol. 8 million spent in 3 windows, Nike deal, stadium expansion on hold, on field success worth millions and fringe/loan players to be sold off. We are not skint stop lying ?
— Steven O’Connor (@stevie80con) May 2, 2020
Lyon worst off than us like
— TIM MOUNCE (@timmonce17) May 2, 2020
It will be a buyer’s market as and when the window opens so it is surprising that Liverpool are being so cautious.
Clubs like Lyon, who are now expected to miss out on European football next season, will need cash in order to strengthen their finances. Aouar could, therefore, be available relatively cheaply.
Even so, it looks like Liverpool, for the time being at least, have no plans to spend any money on transfers this summer.