Liverpool today decided not to sign midfielder Lee Bowyer from Premiership rivals Leeds United, accusing the Elland Road star of 'lacking hunger'.
Following a week of talks with the 25-year-old, Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier was left with doubts about the player's enthusiasm for the Anfield club.
A statement on Liverpool's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv, said: "Liverpool Football Club have decided not to go ahead with the proposed transfer of Lee Bowyer for a variety of reasons.
"Manager Gerard Houllier was not convinced the player had either the hunger or desire to play for the club, qualities which are essential for any Liverpool player."
On July 12 the clubs agreed a fee which suggests the move has collapsed because of Bowyer's personal terms.
Bowyer has been at Leeds since 1996 when he cost 2.8 million pounds making him the most expensive teenage purchase at the time.
His career really blossomed once David O'Leary took over as manager in 1998.
Bowyer was an inspirational driving force with Leeds reaching both the UEFA Cup and Champions League semi-finals in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons respectively.
Some of his best performances came after he was charged with assault along with team-mate Jonathan Woodgate on an Asian student outside a Leeds night club.
He was eventually cleared earlier this year while Woodgate was found guilty of affray, though Leeds fined him heavily for tarnishing the club's image.
But although Liverpool have now pulled out, Bowyer appears determined to leave Elland Road having turned down a new five-year contract in May.
The collapse of his proposed move adds to Leeds financial problems on a day when the Elland Road club extended a 12pm (1100GMT) deadline it had set Manchester United to sign England centre-half Rio Ferdinand.
New Leeds boss Terry Venables is under instructions from his board to make a 15 million pounds pre-season profit on transfers as the club seeks to claw back some of the deficit incurred by former manager David O'Leary's 100 million pounds worth of player purchases. - AFP