Layvin Kurzawa has admitted he was “surprised” to be offered a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain after being linked with Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, speaking to Le Figaro.
With his contract expiring at the end of the 2020/21 season, it looked for all the world as though the France international’s trophy-laden spell at the Parc des Princes was coming to an end.
Sport claimed Liverpool were willing to offer Kurzawa a fresh start, viewing the Ligue 1 champion as a competitor for Andy Robertson at left-back.
The same publication reported in May that Arsenal were his preferred destination, having come close to joining the Gunners in January too.
But then came the sting in the tail.
PSG performed the most unexpected of U-turns and, suddenly, Kurzawa was signing a new four-year contract complete with substantial pay rise.
“I was surprised! In football, as in life, things move quickly,” says a man who had fallen behind Juan Bernat at the 2020 Champions League finalists, via Maxifoot.
“It happened that (sporting director) Leonardo contacted my agent. I had a one-on-one discussion with Leonardo and he told me he wanted to extend me for four years.
“It happened quickly. I quickly thought about it and decided to extend it. There were negotiations, and we ended up reaching four years.”
With Bernat out of action for the considerable future after joining Virgil van Dijk in the ‘ACL club’, £50,000-a-week Kurzawa is now PSG’s first-choice left-back again.
He even started Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Manchester United.
Liverpool’s trophies under Jurgen Klopp
- Champions League
2018/19
- UEFA Super Cup
2019
- FIFA Club World Cup
2019
- Premier League
2019/20