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Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Ajax and PSV - so many of Europe's top clubs wanted to sign Jeremy Doku from Anderlecht when he was still only 15 - but nobody rolled out the red carpet quite like Liverpool."Steven Gerrard showed us videos with tactical analysis," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jeremy-doku-belgian-teen-klopp-wanted-succeed-mane-liverpool/141j052ff425j10atklqmub69h" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Doku's father David later revealed to Het Nieuwsblad</a>. "At the training complex [Simon] Mignolet, [Sadio] Mane and [Georginio] Wijnaldum came to talk to us. How we were received there... damn!"Liverpool's intense interest in Doku was understandable. As a lightning-quick winger blessed with devastating dribbling skills, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jeremy-doku-belgian-teen-klopp-wanted-succeed-mane-liverpool/141j052ff425j10atklqmub69h" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Belgian was already deemed destined for greatness.</a> Anderlecht were, thus, terrified by the prospect of losing one of their most exciting-ever academy products for a minimal fee before he had even made his first-team debut. <script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>However, an impromptu meeting with Romelu Lukaku changed everything.

Explained: How Romelu Lukaku kept Liverpool from making Man City star Jeremy Doku their Sadio Mane replacement

Lukaku had come through the youth-team ranks at Anderlecht and despite leaving for Chelsea in 2011, he remained very close to the club.Indeed, he would regularly return to the training ground and, on one such visit to Neerpede in 2018, Lukaku met with Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht's youth coordinator.The pair discussed the players most likely to follow in Lukaku's footsteps and Kindermans brought up Doku, but lamented the fact that holding onto such talents was becoming increasingly difficult.The Doku situation was an excellent cast in point. Jurgen Klopp wasn't just offering to turn Doku into the next Mane; Liverpool had also put together a financial package that Doku's father had even admitted to Kindermans was extremely difficult to turn down.However, Lukaku felt he could help Anderlecht hold onto their most prized possession. "Come on, give me your phone," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-romelu-lukaku-video-call-persuaded-new-man-city-signing-jeremy-doku-snub-chelsea/blt153d4fb280f53568" target="_blank">he told Kindermans.</a> "I will call him."

'Give me your phone - I will call him'

Kindermans, though, thought a video would be even more impactful, particularly when accompanied by the words <a href="https://theathletic.com/5085287/2023/11/23/jeremy-doku-belgium-origins/" target="_blank">"I'm not the only one with this kind of advice..."</a> by way of an introduction."I still have the video on my phone," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-romelu-lukaku-video-call-persuaded-new-man-city-signing-jeremy-doku-snub-chelsea/blt153d4fb280f53568" target="_blank">Kindermans told the Sunday Mirror last year</a>. "On it, you can hear Romelu giving advice to Doku's family, saying 'Hey, guys, stay with Anderlecht for a while, you’re good.'"<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jeremy-doku-belgian-teen-klopp-wanted-succeed-mane-liverpool/141j052ff425j10atklqmub69h" target="_blank">It was, as Doku's father admitted, a very "smart" move</a>. Doku had his doubts about joining Liverpool at such a young age anyway - and the Lukaku massage helped him make his mind up to stay at Anderlecht."Romelu said in the video that it was better to break through in Belgium first," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jeremy-doku-belgian-teen-klopp-wanted-succeed-mane-liverpool/141j052ff425j10atklqmub69h" target="_blank">David Doku revealed,</a> "and then leave through the main gates."And that's exactly what Doku did, making his professional debut for Anderlecht at just 16 before joining Rennes in October 2020 for €26 million (£22m/$28m).

'Better to break through in Belgium first'

For that reason, Doku had no regrets about rejecting the Reds. He felt as if he were on the right path for him, and his development."I talked a lot with Mane but we didn't really talk about football," <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/rennes-wonderkid-doku-explains-why-he-turned-down-liverpool-after-chat-with-mane/1j9kcrvly1nj21izckao3tk99p" target="_blank">he told Ouest-France in 2021.</a> "We talked about everything. He told me that I was young, that I still had time... He wasn't trying to convince me or to say to me 'Come here, you will succeed.'"I preferred to be careful. I know what my trajectory had to be. That’s why, at 15, I told myself it had become serious, because I’d seen my career. I know what route I needed to take and I knew at that moment I needed to stay at Anderlecht."As soon as I’m asked if I regret it, I always say no, because if Liverpool came to me at 15, if they like me, they’ll come back later, that’s certain. It’s up to me to play well."

'I knew I needed to stay at Anderlecht'

And he played very well in France, proving himself one of the best dribblers in Europe. It wasn't Liverpool who eventually came calling again, but Manchester City, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/manchester-city-confirm-arrival-of-jeremy-doku-from-rennes-riyad-mahrez-replacement/blt3680db53590e05d8" target="_blank">who signed the 21-year-old for €60m (£51m/$65m) last summer.</a>Doku has made quite the impact at the Etihad, effectively taking Jack Grealish's starting spot on the left flank with a string of scintillating showings that have yielded five goals and six assists so far this season.On Sunday, he will face Liverpool at Anfield, with City looking to replace the Reds at the top of the Premier League table. Of course, had it not been for Lukaku, Doku could well have been lining up for the home side. It's impossible to know how things would have worked out with him had he moved to Merseyside at such a young age all of those years ago.One thing is sure, though, as one of the most dangerous players in the City starting line-up, he won't be received anywhere near as warmly this weekend as he was on his first visit to Liverpool.

Lining up against rather than for Liverpool

Explained: How Romelu Lukaku kept Liverpool from making Man City star Jeremy Doku their Sadio Mane replacement | Goal.com Nigeria

Liverpool pulled out all the stops to sign Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku from Anderlecht when he was still only a teenager but they were foiled by Romelu Lukaku