Yevhen Konoplyanka, the man who played a central role on winter transfer deadline day, has revealed he has consigned Liverpool to his past after their failed attempt to sign him.
Konoplyanka is gearing up for a meeting with Tottenham in the Europa League on Thursday, knowing he can attract more suitors by performing well against the Premier League club.
Things could have been so different, had his club Dnipro consented to his sale at the end of January, but Konoplyanka refuses to dwell on the fact he should be a Liverpool player, per the Express’ Ben Jefferson:
Everything that happened is in the past.
There is a good saying 'everything is for the best' - all we have to do is concentrate on the game for tomorrow, that is all.
Konoplyanka’s latest comments are likely an effort on his part to remain professional ahead of Dnipro’s biggest game of the season, but they also portray a player who is confident he will get his big move in the near future.
In the case of Liverpool, the Ukraine international was all set to make a £15 million switch. However, Dnipro’s owner refused to sign the paperwork, according to BBC Sport, so the deal died.
Artur Petrosyan of Sport Express in Russia reveals Konoplyanka also had no idea of Spurs' interest in him:
Konoplyanka on Spurs being after him along with Liverpool: "Thanks for letting me know that, I didn't hear about it before".— Artur Petrosyan (@arturpetrosyan) February 19, 2014
Konoplyanka would have every right to voice his discontent in public at Dnipro's decision to block his move, but instead he has opted to act with dignity by focusing on his football.
His words, though, offer Liverpool little encouragement that they will finally get their man with a renewed bid in the summer.
Will Dnipro stun Spurs?
Konoplyanka’s worth to Dnipro is clear. Ahead of Thursday’s visit of Tottenham, he has scored three goals and supplied two assists during their Europa League campaign, per ESPN FC.
Most comfortable operating from a wide left position before cutting inside, the attacker will be a pest for the likes of Danny Rose or Jan Vertonghen to deal with in the first-leg encounter.
Liverpool will no doubt have a scout assigned to monitor Konoplyanka’s progress. However, after the Reds’ January failure to sign him, they may not be the only club scouting him on Thursday.