Liverpool Star Reveals How He Almost Joined Stoke Instead Of The Reds

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson has revealed that he held talks with Stoke City before opting to join the Reds.

The Scotland captain’s team Hull City had been relegated from the Premier League and the Potters were the first club that came in for him.

Robertson said that he was seriously considering moving to Stoke after Mark Hughes’s side finished 13th in the Premier League during the 2016/17 campaign. However, he was concerned about playing second fiddle to first-choice left-back Erik Pieters:

“Stoke were quite interested in me. Mark Hughes had liked me and I think there was a wee bit of chat with them.”

“So I was thinking they were a really good option; I think they finished top 10 that season and I was trying to get my head on a move to Stoke.”

“I was thinking they were really keen, and at that point, under Mark Hughes, they were playing good football. They had Erik Pieters; I wasn’t sure if I was going in as back-up to him as he was flying that season.”

The Scottish defender eventually moved to Liverpool for £8m in July 2017. Although he initially found it difficult to get game time under Jurgen Klopp, he established himself as a first team regular ahead of Alberto Moreno midway through last season.

While Robertson was helping the Reds to the Champions League final and a fourth-placed finish in the league, Stoke were relegated to the Championship, ending a nine-year stay in the top flight.