Jeremy Doku insists he has no regrets about not joining Liverpool when he was an academy player – but hopes they still possess an interest.
Doku is currently in his first season with Rennes, whom he joined from Anderlecht. During his days with the Belgian club, he held talks over a possible move to Liverpool.
Aged 15 at the time, he would have gone into their academy setup with a plan to reach the first team one day. However, no agreement was reached and he has begun to fulfil his potential elsewhere.
Liverpool have not lost sight of him, though. Reports last year suggested the Premier League champions were still interested and wanted to sign him before he joined Rennes.
Now, the winger is keen to prove himself and wonders if Liverpool may return for him later down the line.
“If I regret? I have said no all the time,” he told Ouest France of his previous move to Liverpool not going through.
“If Liverpool came for me at 15, if they like me, they will come back later that is for sure.
“It is up to me to be good.”
Reflecting on his past visit to Liverpool, Doku revealed four key figures he spoke to – with one first team star giving him the most advice.
“I was able to talk to Jurgen Klopp, [Sadio] Mane, [Georginio] Wijnaldum and [Steven] Gerrard too,” Doku said.
“I spoke a lot with Mane, but we didn’t really talk about football. We spoke about everything.
“He told me, ‘you have to be nice to your mother’, it was a conversation and a human relationship above all.”
Doku recently scored his first goal in Ligue 1, but it was a day of mixed emotions as he was sent off in the same game.
Across the whole season, he has provided two assists in the French top flight. He also made his senior international debut for Belgium back in September and scored on his first start.
Under contract with Rennes until 2025, the 18-year-old is expected to have a bright future. That means Liverpool could be keeping track of him as he continues to develop.
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Liverpool interested in Juventus star
Meanwhile, in the here and now, Liverpool have been linked with Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
The former Arsenal midfielder could return to the Premier League after falling down the pecking order in Turin.
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool have lined him up as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, who is out of contract this summer.
West Ham are also said to be interested in Ramsey and could give him the chance to return to London.
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