Although Virgil van Dijk was always Liverpool's top choice, three other players, including one who recently came to the Premier League, were also considered.
Jurgen Klopp realized that he needed to expand his center-back alternatives at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.
Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren were Klopp's most-used defenders, with Ragnar Klavan filling in when needed because Joe Gomez missed most of the season due to injury.
Van Dijk was put at the top of the club's shortlist of great center backs who could take Liverpool to the next level.
However, attempts to entice him away from Southampton failed, embarrassingly, and the club issued an official apology to their rivals on the south coast for approaching the Dutchman without concluding a deal.
Three names were on the list of potential replacements for the Reds' recruitment team: Aymeric Laporte, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Jose Gimenez. Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Bilbao
While Koulibaly and Gimenez were regarded as two of Europe's top center-backs, Laporte, who was still playing for Athletic Club, was attracting interest from a number of clubs, including Man City.
With the help of those in the boardroom, Klopp analyzed the benefits and drawbacks and came to the conclusion that it was essentially Van Dijk or nothing.
In order to repair the relationship with Southampton, work was done behind the scenes. In the winter of 2018, a £75 million deal was finally reached.
Koulibaly and Gimenez remained with Napoli and Atletico Madrid, respectively, while Laporte signed with City for £57 million during the same transfer window.
Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly
Gimenez's career has plateaued due to ongoing injuries; he is now a bench player for Atletico; whereas, Koulibaly's extended stay at Napoli was unexpected.
The Senegal captain was frequently linked with moves to other elite teams in Europe, but he remained loyal to Napoli and, in 2020, won the Coppa Italia, the first and only significant trophy of his career in Naples.
Koulibaly has finally made the switch to the Premier League, however, after spending eight years with the Italian side and winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Chelsea announced on Saturday that the 31-year-old has signed a four-year contract, with the London club reportedly paying £34 million for his services.
He admitted to Chelsea's official website that playing in the Premier League had always been his goal.
Koulibaly was therefore denied his dream of playing in the Premier League when Liverpool took his name off the shortlist four and a half years ago, but he is currently in the English top division.
The fact that Koulibaly will now compete directly with Van Dijk and Laporte as three of the top center backs in England is not surprising given the Reds' history of discovering quality.
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