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Liverpool transfer news: Reds miss out on Ousmane Dembele after he signs five-year deal with Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund announced the signing of the highly-rated teenager, who has agreed a long-term deal after rejecting interest from elsewhere

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 12 May 2016 14:48 BST

Ousmane Dembele has joined Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal (Getty)

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of highly-rated forward Ousmane Dembele, with the teenager set to join the club from French side Stade Rennais at the end of the season despite being linked with a move to Premier League side Liverpool.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has personally spoken to Dembele with the Reds considering a move for the 18-year-old, but on Thursday afternoon Dortmund announced that they have reached a deal with Stade Rennais that will see the France Under-21 international join them for the 2016/17 season.

The club announced the news on its club website, confirming that Dembele has signed a five-year contract that runs until 2021.

Speaking after agreeing to join the Bundesliga side, Dembele said: "Dortmund tried very early to sign me and always kept in close contact with me - this behaviour has really impressed me.

“The concept of Dortmund convinced me totally. I cannot wait to play in the Bundesliga before more than 80,000 spectators at Signal Iduna Park and with my new teammates in the Champions League. "

"Ousmane can play in almost every position on the offensive,” said Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc.

“He is strong in one-on-ones, two-footed, tricky, fast and a goal threat."

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Show all 12

1/12Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Daniel Sturridge

An electric frontman just three years ago, Sturridge has now lost a bit of that spark due to persistent injury problems. However, according to Jamie Carragher, Sturridge has become irked at speculation linking him with a move away, suggesting he may yet stick around to prove himself. Survival rating: 6/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Alberto Moreno

Moreno is surely in line to depart this summer, having been frozen out of the starting line-up since the opening day win at Arsenal and kept out by a makeshift left-back. Although he offers an obvious attacking threat, his lack of composure has cost Liverpool too many times in his short Anfield career. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Simon Mignolet

He may have won his battle with Loris Karius for the starting spot between the sticks, but both may have lost the war. Neither have convinced when given an opportunity and Mignolet is merely the man in possession. There will be concern if that’s still the case come next season’s opening weekend. Survival rating: 8/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Emre Can

A player with undoubted potential, but one who has consistently under-performed. His contractual situation is a worry, too. Can’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018 and, with negotiations progressing slowly, Liverpool could be tempted to cash in. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Lucas Leiva

A club stalwart, a fan favourite, but a player undoubtedly coming to the end of his time at Anfield. His contract expires this summer and a renewal would be one borne out of sentiment rather than sense. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Loris Karius

Like Mignolet, Karius' future will depend on whether Klopp decides to enter the market for a goalkeeper for the second consecutive summer. If he does, last year's signing from Mainz will have a long road back to the first team. He is young, though, and his status as a relatively new signing could work in his favour. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Ragnar Klavan

Brought in as a fourth-choice centre-back last summer, Klavan shot up the pecking order following Mamadou Sakho’s disciplinary issues. Joel Matip’s injury problems saw Klavan promoted further still and, though he has put in a handful of solid displays, others have been below-par. If a new centre-back arrives and Joe Gomez’s development continues apace, Klavan will be back on the fringes. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Mamadou Sakho

Sakho is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace and his Anfield career looks all but over after the disciplinary problems which have dogged him. Klopp looks to have made his mind up on the defender, who would be a regular starter if he had his manager's trust. Survival rating: 1/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Jon Flanagan

Local-born Flanagan is a fan favourite who only signed a new contract last season, but as an old-fashioned full-back, he is perhaps not dynamic enough for Klopp's system. A lack of minutes at loan club Burnley will not have helped his cause. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Andre Wisdom

Wisdom broke into Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side during the Northern Irishman's first season at the club, but his progress has stagnated. The 23-year-old may now look to build a career away from English football, having spent this season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Lazar Markovic

Markovic seems destined to become an expensive Liverpool flop, having flattered to deceive since his £20million move from Benfica in 2014. He could yet enjoy success elsewhere however, and has shown glimpses of his undeniable talent while on loan at Hull. Survival rating: 3/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Danny Ings

Liverpool's forgotten man has been unlucky with injuries since joining from Burnley. Ings has made just 11 starts in two years following two serious knee injuries. With any luck, Klopp will show sympathy to his beleaguered striker. Survival rating: 6/10

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Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke added:" Ousmane has always given the impression that he wants nothing more than to play for our special club, to play our intensive football in our unique stadium.”

Liverpool were in the hunt for Dembele, having already agreed deals to sign Schalke defender Joel Matip and Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic ahead of the new season, but they have missed out on the forward and Klopp will need to target alternative reinforcements throughout the summer.

One of those alternatives could well be a former Dortmund player in Mario Götze, with the Germany international reported to have been told he can leave Bayern Munich by incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti. Liverpool are keen on signing the World Cup winner, with Klopp nurturing Götze during their years at Dortmund together, and the arrival of Dembele in a reported €15m [£11.8m] deal which could rise to €52m [£41m] with bonuses may suggest that the German side will not pursue the Bayern midfielder.

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