BAYER Leverkusen chief Wolfgang Holzhauser has confirmed that veteran centre-back Sami Hyypia was close to re-signing for Liverpool.
Roy Hodgson admitted earlier this month that he had unsuccessfully attempted to buy the Finn out of the remaining one year of his contract for Bayer.
Holzhauser told the Express: “Sami came to us asking if there would be any chance to return to Liverpool.
“We had an open discussion. Sami accepted straight away that we were desperate to keep him here.
“He is too important for us and a valuable part of our first-team squad. We could easily imagine keeping Sami at our club for more than the remaining year of his contract.
“He may add another season on the pitch and we are also considering adding him to our backroom staff afterwards, if he wants.”