Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp said he was shocked to hear that striker Loic Remy failed a medical exam with Liverpool and said there must be another reason why the transfer broke down.
Remy was set to complete a switch from QPR to Anfield over the weekend, but Liverpool reportedly called off the deal after expressing concern over the forward’s health.
Remy, 27, encountered problems when he moved from Nice to Marseilles in 2010.
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The medical exam discovered a heart defect, but further tests convinced Marseilles to complete the transfer.
“I don’t really see how he could have failed a medical,” Redknapp said. “He had a stringent medical here – one at Marseille, at Newcastle and with the French team at the World Cup.
“He’s never had a problem with his fitness. You couldn’t meet a fitter lad.
“I’ve seen the story break, but I don’t know how there can be an issue with his fitness. He’s got no problems whatsoever.”
Remy spent last season on loan at Newcastle United, where he scored 14 goals in the Premier League.
The striker was out for almost a month with a calf problem toward the end of the campaign, but Redknapp believes there must be another reason for Liverpool pulling the plug.
“There must have been a breakdown or they’ve changed their mind or they’ve decided to move in another direction,” Redknapp said. “It’s not fair on him, because it’s my opinion and the opinion of everybody else, he’s never had a problem before.
“Liverpool’s loss is our gain. When he went to Newcastle last year, I said he was capable of 20 goals in the Premier League, so that’s what we need him to do.”
Liverpool did complete the signing of defender Dejan Lovren from Southampton for a fee of £20 million (Dh124.8m)
The Croatia international played in the 2014 World Cup and is the third Southampton player to join last season’s English Premier League runners-up, following midfielder Adam Lallana and striker Rickie Lambert.
“Lovren is a commanding and powerful presence and clearly has leadership skills, which is important,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.
“He fits the profile of player we are looking for. He is still relatively young, so his peak years are ahead of him, and I believe he will improve and progress even further with us.”
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