RB Leipzig's director of football Max Eberl has revealed how his hands were tied with regards to allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to leave and join Liverpool.
The Reds completed at £60 million deal over the weekend, with the activation of his release clause allowing a transfer to take place. The deal was completed quickly, with reports of Liverpool's pursuit of the deal first emerging last week, before the transfer was announced on Sunday.
The midfielder is expected to pick up the mantle of Liverpool's main playmaker in midfield, with the Hungarian possessing sublime technical skills as well as having strong physical attributes. He joins the Reds midfield as part of a summer overhaul, with Alexis Mac Allister having already arrived and a number of other targets linked with a move.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher has already told Jurgen Klopp his next Liverpool signing after Dominik Szoboszlai
The 22-year-old has won back-to-back German Cups in the past two seasons, helping bring success to RB Leipzig. Eberl, who takes a leadership role in the club's transfer strategy admitted that the deal became inevitable due to a release clause in his contract. He also admitted that he would have preferred to hold on to the player, with quotes reported by Chronicle Live.
"In the case of Dominik Szoboszlai, our hands were tied due to the release clause in his contract, meaning we had to let him go." Eberl said: "We will, however, find strong alternatives and other options following this departure, not least with the additions we have already made in the attacking area.
"Of course, we would have liked to go into the new season and coming years with Dominik. He has decided, however, to make the move to England and Liverpool, a top team in Europe.
"This is another testament to us as a club and the work that has been done here to take young players to the next level."
Szoboszlai played as a wide playmaker for Leipzig last season, with his role in Leipzig's 4-2-2-2 system as an advanced midfielder. His set-piece skills and crossing ability mark him out as one of the most technical young players in Europe, with a role as a number eight expected in Jurgen Klopp's set-up.
