The Ukraine international is looking to the future despite his failed Anfield move but Dnipro director Andriy Rusol claims he is “1000 per cent sure” of a summer switch
Dnipro forward Yevhen Konoplyanka has admitted that he feels “a little resentment” over his failed move to Liverpool, but is focused on facing Tottenham in the Europa League.
The Reds missed out on signing the Ukraine international despite trying to push through a deal in the final days of the transfer window, with prolonged negotiations continuing throughout deadline day on Friday.
But when asked if he was upset at the move breaking down, Konoplyanka told reporters: “Not at all upset! Well, I will not hide it… there is a little resentment.
“But life goes on. I need to treat this like a sleep. I woke up and carried on. I will search for the next dream. I hope that everything will turn out okay.”
Konoplyanka also stressed the disappointment over the collapsed move would not affect his performances.
“On the contrary!” he said. “We’ll play Tottenham [in the Europa League], one of the best teams in the English Premier League. We will go for it! I want to show my best.”
There have been reports that Liverpool will revive their interest in the summer, but Konoplyanka insists his he would already be playing for one of La Liga’s top sides if his future depended entirely on him.
“If I decided, I would already be playing at Barcelona or Real Madrid, winning the Champions League. These things do not depend on me,” he added.
According to Dnipro executive director Andriy Rusol, however, Konoplyanka will move to Anfield this summer.
“I am a thousand per cent sure that Liverpool will try again in the summer and then we’ll let him go,” Rusol is quoted as saying in various Ukrainian media outlets.
“Money was not the problem, the problem was that Liverpool came too late.
“But in the summer everything will be fine. If Liverpool, in the summer, report to us, Yevhen will still go to this club.”
Rumours quickly circulated that Dnipro president Igor Kolomoisky caused the deal to breakdown by refusing to sign the relevent paperwork, but Rusol has placed the blame at Liverpool’s door.
“Igor Kolomoisky gave the go-ahead immediately,” he added. “It is not our fault, Liverpool representatives could have arrived a day or two earlier.
“The president could not keep the midfielder, because the contract spelled out the specific release clause. The British club just did not have time to finish the deal. Our club could not sign the transfer documents until we received the money in the account.
“Up to the deadline we were waiting for the transfer of money from Liverpool. But this did not happen.”