In one of the more bizarre rumours heard so far – and there have been quite a few – Javier Dopico is claiming that Liverpool are interested in signing him.

If his name rings a bell, it is because Benitez had actually made a bid to sign him three years back but Malaga weren’t interested in selling. At the time, Dopico was quite highly rated but he’s since faded away and at 22 he finds himself playing for Ibiza in the Spanish third division.

Talking to Ultima Hora, Dopico spoke of his disappointment at not joining Liverpool in 2004.

“Three years ago, in August 2004, there was a concrete offer from Liverpool. Rafa Benitez requested a swapwith Malaga for a player of his team which, in turn, appealed to my club. Now the situation is different, but for the moment can not say much.”

“It is very difficult for a player to make the leap from the Second Division B to the top level, but it would be a dream to play at Anfield Road. I have a tremendous desire and it is clear that both for me and for Ibiza it would be an honour to end up at that club."

"However, we must not anticipate events and I'm only thinking of the next game. Right now I do not know if a date of January 31 will continue or not in Ibiza,” he continues, hinting perhaps that there might be something in he offing.

In reality, even though the story has been picked up by El Mundo Deportivo, it is highly unlikely that he will move to Liverpool and, like the rest of us, his dream of playing at Anfield will remain just that.