Jose Mourinho's Impact on Liverpool's Transfer Woes
Jose Mourinho has spent a career needling Liverpool from opposing dugouts. Now at Real Madrid, he has just dealt them another setback in the transfer market – and this time it involves two of the most talked‑about young forwards in Europe.
Endrick unmoved by Liverpool interest
Endrick is not planning to leave Real Madrid, despite Liverpool testing the water over a potential move, according to ESPN. The Brazilian forward, who has impressed Mourinho during pre-season, is said to be happy in Madrid after a strong summer on the training pitch.
Liverpool are understood to have made an enquiry about his availability after missing out on Yan Diomande. The response from Spain has been firm: Endrick stays. Mourinho sees the 19-year-old as a flexible attacking weapon and wants him in his squad this season.
That stance has already had consequences. Both player and coach have turned down approaches from Aston Villa and Roma in recent weeks. Endrick, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, has been heavily involved in Madrid’s early summer schedule under Mourinho.
He started and scored in his first outing of pre-season against Fiorentina, a sharp reminder of his penalty-box instincts. He then kept his place in the XI for friendlies against Deportivo La Coruna and Ferencvaros, though he sat out their most recent game.
Diomande explains why he chose Madrid over Liverpool
Liverpool’s move for Endrick only came after they were beaten to Diomande in a race that underlined Mourinho’s pulling power.
The Premier League club were ready to go close to £100million for the Ivory Coast international, but Diomande opted for Madrid. Speaking to SportyTV, he lifted the lid on how hard Mourinho pushed to bring him to the Bernabeu.
“Mourinho got up at five in the morning to talk to me,” Diomande revealed. When Madrid called, the decision quickly became clear. “When Madrid calls you, you can't say no. So I said: ‘If they want me, that's where I'll be.’”
Diomande has already made his non-competitive debut, coming off the bench for the final half-hour in place of Brahim Diaz while Endrick watched on. The former RB Leipzig winger has wasted no time in nailing his colours to Mourinho’s mast.
“As soon as I arrived, he told me: ‘I promised you that you were going to be part of my team, and here you are,’” Diomande said. “And I told him: ‘I'm happy to work with you because you are the best.’”
“I can learn a lot from him; he is the right coach to continue my development. I am prepared to die for him.”
Those words will sting at Anfield. Liverpool pushed hard. Mourinho pushed harder.
Liverpool’s search widens after double frustration
With Diomande in Madrid and Endrick off the table, Liverpool’s recruitment team have been forced to look elsewhere.
Their latest move was a £50million bid for Yankuba Minteh, rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls are in no rush to sell and have made that clear. For now, Minteh remains out of reach.
Liverpool have also held early talks over Ibrahim Mbaye and Magnhes Akilouche. Any hopes of landing that pair together have already evaporated: both players have since joined Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG are at the centre of another Liverpool pursuit as well. The French club have been in discussions with the Reds for weeks over Bradley Barcola. The forward wants the move – he has made it known privately that Anfield is his preferred destination – but PSG’s valuation is eye-watering. They want £140million for the France international.
Earlier in the window, Liverpool also looked at Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Said El Mala as possible attacking reinforcements. Names have come and gone. The concrete bid remains for Minteh.
For now, Mourinho has won the latest skirmish, keeping Endrick close and Diomande even closer. The question hanging over Liverpool is simple: in a market this fierce, how long can they afford to keep missing their primary targets?
