Arne Slot's 'best player in world' tip reveals truth about Liverpool transfer links

Arne Slot favorite Mats Wieffer, who he worked with for two successful seasons at Feyenoord, has moved to Brighton this summer. Despite some claims around the switch at the time, he has now confirmed that Liverpool was never in for him .

"There were a few clubs, but not really as concrete as Brighton . Liverpool were not actually an option," Wieffer has outlined in comments relayed by the Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur .

"I had been in discussions with Brighton for a long time and had the feeling that they really wanted me. Before I went to Feyenoord, I had already spoken to Union [Saint-Gilloise]. They work together with Brighton. So, they have actually known me for a very long time."

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It was Brighton’s attractive brand of soccer and its ability to improve players and then sell them to bigger sides that sold Wieffer on a switch to the Amex Stadium. "I played well at Feyenoord for a year and a half and thought this was the right time for me to make this step," he continued.

"Especially when you see what Brighton have done in recent years with training players, selling good players, the way of playing and how much they wanted me. These are all things that are very positive."

Last year in an interview with Voetbal International , Slot said he regarded Wieffer’s development as "mega" and even admitted he believed the 1.88 meter tall midfielder could become the best player in the world. "Mats has made a huge leap in terms of development, I can really enjoy that," Slot said.

"So big that if he does that again, he will become the best player in the world. That is of course unrealistic, for any footballer. But Mats can become even better."

The Dutch outlet De Telegraaf claimed at the time Brighton got the deal over the line that Liverpool made a last-ditch attempt to sign Wieffer. That, though, was never the case.

Liverpool.com says: Had Liverpool wanted Wieffer, the Reds would realistically have been able to beat Brighton to his signature. You just hope that next summer, Slot and Liverpool aren't having to pay $100m to sign the 24-year-old defensive midfielder because he has exploded in the Premier League like so many other Brighton transfers.