Talented FC Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn has revealed the reasons behind rejecting a move to Liverpool as a youngster, when speaking to The Independent.

What's the story?

It's a big day for FC Koln tomorrow as the German side are braced for their first involvement in European competition for 25 years, as they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal, but the path of goalkeeper Timo Horn could have been a lot different.

The 24-year-old stopper is a boyhood Koln fan, too young to remember the previous campaign in Europe, who has become a crucial part of the new-look German side as they've battled their way from Germany's second-tier into the Europa League.

However, Horn has admitted to The Independent that the path of his career could have been a lot different as Liverpool were keen on bringing him to England around eight years ago, when he was just 16, but he's explained why moving to the Premier League wasn't the right choice.

What was said?

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Europa League tie at the Emirates Stadium, Horn said:

“At the age of 15 or 16, Liverpool were very interested in me. But I didn’t go there because I felt the goalkeeping schooling in Germany was much better and I had enough examples. For instance, Ron-Robert Zieler who came back after a year [at Leicester], and that’s why I stayed in Cologne."

“In principle, the thought of moving to England is appealing but it’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I can’t rule it out completely. I often had chances and offers to move to England as a youth player, but in my opinion the best goalkeeping education is here in Germany which is why I’ve always stayed."

Should Liverpool move?

Horn's stock is likely to rise this season through involvement in the Europa League and Liverpool may well be one of the side's accredited with an interest in the young German, as they've struggled to find stability between the sticks ever since the days of Pepe Reina.

Uncapped for Germany, but featuring for his nation in the Olympics last summer, Horn likely needs to leave Koln to take the next step in his career and a move to the Premier League is a likely scenario due to the player's fondness for his home-town club, which means he probably won't want to line-up for a Bundesliga rival.

The danger for Liverpool is there may be quite a few sides eyeing a talented young goalkeeper next summer as the likes of Bayern Munich and Arsenal both have ageing stoppers in Manuel Neuer and Petr Cech.