Liverpool tried to re-sign Hyypia say Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Wolfgang Holzhauser has confirmed that his club rejected an approach from Liverpool to re-sign veteran Finnish defender Sami Hyypia.

The 36-year-old impressed in his first season in the Bundesliga and Leverkusen already have Hyypia lined up for a future coaching role.

Holzhauser told the Express newspaper: “Sami came to us asking if there would be any chance to return to Liverpool.

“We had an open discussion and 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 and we are also considering adding him to our backroom staff afterwards, if he wants.”