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Roy Hodgson dropped Liverpool transfer clanger by ‘selling the wrong player’ to rivals
A LOOK BACK: The former Liverpool manager had a torrid time of it at Anfield and even stands accused of selling the wrong player to Fulham by mistake during his Reds reign
Roy Hodgson’s stock is particularly high at the moment given the way he has turned things around at Crystal Palace after stepping in to replace the sacked Patrick Vieira.
However, things weren’t always looking so bright for Hodgson. Back during his time at the helm of Premier League giants Liverpool, the experienced manager is alleged to have sold the wrong player by mistake according to Alex Kacaniklic, who claims Hodgson sent him to Fulham in a bid to sign Paul Konchesky.
Hodgson landed Konchesky’s signature early on in his Reds reign and was a keen admirer of the full-back from their shared time at Craven Cottage and reached the Europa League final with him in 2010. As part of the deal to bring the defender to Anfield, Hodgson agreed to part ways with two young talents in Lauri Dalla Valle and Kacaniklic.
The latter was the subject of rave reviews during the early stages of his playing career but failed to realise his potential in south-west London.
Four years ago, Kacaniklic discussed the transfer and made the claim about Hodgson’s error on sports podcast Lundh.
“It was a bit difficult for Liverpool to replace me,” the former Sweden international explained. “When I was in Fulham and before I signed up, I had a conversation with Roy Hodgson on the phone, where we found out that he had changed the wrong Alex.
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“In his head, he thought he changed another Alex for Konchesky. But then it was too late. It’s a little funny.
“Then he just told me I was welcome back in Liverpool with open arms, but that I should do what I felt. I did not [go back]. Then I had already changed my mind and was very excited about coming to Fulham.”
Kacaniklic was sent out on loan multiple times while on the books at Fulham, though few of them inspired much of a turnaround in terms of form.
A temporary switch to Watford was followed by another loan at Burnley, before he signed a season-long loan deal at Danish outfit Copenhagen, but made just seven appearances across the campaign.
Hodgson’s time at Anfield is not remembered particularly fondly by the Liverpool fanbase, but he also seemed to hold some grudges of his own with those above him in the Reds hierarchy.
At the time of his sacking, Hodgson conceded he harboured some frustrations as he claimed: “Any manager would be honoured to manage a club with such an incredible history, such embedded tradition and such an amazing set of fans. I have, however, found the last few months some of the most challenging of my career.
“I am very sad not to have been able to put my stamp on the squad, to be given the time to bring new players into the club in this transfer window and to have been able to be part of the rebuilding process.”
