Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reportedly attempted to sell a number of his star players last month so that he could afford to sign American forward Clint Dempsey.
The Reds had been the heavy favourites to land the 29-year-old, but Fulham eventually sold him to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £6m on transfer deadline day.
It is believed that Liverpool failed to attain their number one target because the club's owners were unwilling to meet the Cottagers' asking price.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Rodgers was so keen to sign Dempsey that he instructed agents to try to find potential buyers for Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique.
Henderson, Downing and Enrique were signed by Liverpool for respective fees of £16m, £20m and £5m.
