Defender turned down Liverpool on transfer deadline day after receiving offer

Duje Caleta-Car turned down Liverpool's January 2021 transfer approach during the Reds' defensive injury crisis, choosing to remain loyal to Marseille as Jurgen Klopp signed Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak instead

Duje Caleta-Car (left) had the chance to play for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Duje Caleta-Car is among the rare breed of players who have rejected an offer from Liverpool in recent years.

Few would pass up the chance to join the current Reds squad, but defender Caleta-Car did just that, choosing loyalty to his club over a move. With the January transfer deadline now behind us, the Reds are left to assess their options for the rest of the season.

Arne Slot and his club had a relatively quiet winter window compared to the influx of new talent in the summer, although they did secure a deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, set to join at the end of this season.

Rewind to January 2021, and Liverpool was once again on the hunt for defensive reinforcements. Jurgen Klopp was at the helm, dealing with a spate of injuries to key defenders including Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

This led to Liverpool expressing interest in Caleta-Car, who was then a regular feature for Marseille.

However, the 2018 World Cup runner-up chose to stay put in the south of France, turning down the opportunity to join the Reds.

Duje Caleta-Car playing against Arsenal while at Southampton(Image: Getty Images)

"I received an offer from Liverpool," the center-back admitted at the time. "It was an honor 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."

Liverpool shifted its focus and secured deadline day deals for Ben Davies from Preston and Ozan Kabak from Schalke on loan.

Academy products Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams were also thrust into more prominent first-team roles that season.

Ironically, Caleta-Car remained in France for roughly another 18 months before eventually making the switch to England.

He signed a four-year deal with Southampton in the summer of 2022 but managed only 19 appearances for the Saints as they suffered relegation in his debut season at St. Mary's.

Following a campaign that saw the Saints finish bottom in 20th place, he headed back to France on loan to Lyon.

That temporary arrangement became permanent in 2024, and he now finds himself in Spain, having left Lyon for another loan stint, this time with Real Sociedad.