Ola Toivonen: Rennes Striker Laments Failure to Join Liverpool

Rennes forward Ola Toivonen continues to regret his failure to secure a move to Liverpool in 2010 following his January departure from PSV Eindhoven.

Toivonen was among the hottest young strikers in Europe around the turn of the decade, scoring 19 for PSV in the 2010/11 season, leading to flirtatious glances from around the continent.

Liverpool, then managed by current England manager Roy Hodgson, were heavily linked with a move for the 28-year-old and Toivonen has revealed how two bids from the Premier League were rejected.

"The only thing I regret from my PSV time is that I did not fight enough to get the club to let me join Liverpool," he told L'Equipe. "They tabled two offers whilst Roy Hodgson was the coach."

On his move to Rennes last January, he added: "A new start might be a too strong word but I needed a challenge. It's a big difference. Physically, it is also a big difference. The players here are really big and tough."

During the summer of 2010, Liverpool made a host of uncertain signings but failed to add to their forward line, with Jonjo Shelvey, Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole representing the only attacking signings of a haphazard transfer window.

Hodgson lasted just six months at Liverpool before being sacked in January 2011, which came prior to the signing of Luis Suarez from Ajax and the club record addition of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United.

Since failing to secure a move to Liverpool, Toivonen's career has taken a notable nose-dive, with his goal tally drying up, a trend that has contributed to PSV's wait for a league title extending to six seasons.

One goal in seven league starts at the beginning of last term eventually led to his departure to Rennes, who, after a 12<sup>th place finish last term, have begun the season with four defeats in their opening nine Ligue 1 matches.