Jamie Carragher believes that Timo Werner would have joined Liverpool if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The RB Leipzig striker was heavily linked with a move to Anfield but has agreed to join Chelsea this summer.
With the global crisis having a direct impact on the transfer funds available to Liverpool and other big Premier League clubs, it's expected to be another quiet summer for champions-elect.
Carragher believes that Werner's first-choice destination was always Liverpool and believes that if it wasn't for the pandemic, Jurgen Klopp's side would have forced through the deal.
"Without the pandemic, I'm sure Liverpool would have signed Werner," Carragher told Goal.
"Everyone knows that Liverpool's front three are as good as anything in the world right now, but Werner would have played a lot of games next season."
The former Liverpool defender believes Werner would have had plenty of chances to impress across a season, despite the pedigree of their current front three.
He continued: "There would have been opportunities for Timo Werner to play in the first team on a regular basis. He could have started 10 or 12 games guaranteed and you are talking about 25 or 30 games overall.
"With the Olympics not happening this summer, doubts over whether the African Cup of Nations will go ahead and the financial hit Liverpool have taken due to the pandemic, the decision was made not to sign Werner, but I would like to have seen them push through with the deal. It clearly looked like the player wanted to come to Liverpool."
