Hodgson fails to bring Hyypia back

Roy Hodgson has revealed he failed in an attempt to bring Bayer Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia back to Liverpool.

Hyypia, 36, left Anfield last summer after ten years at the club to sign a two-year deal to play in Germany, but reports had claimed Hodgson wanted to bring him back to Liverpool in a player-coach capacity.

Hodgson, who managed Hyypia during his time in charge of Finland from 2006 to 2007, has now confirmed he made an offer but said Leverkusen would not allow him to leave.

"I can see players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard never leaving Liverpool Football Club," he said on Click Liverpool. "I can see them always being part of the club. In the same way I'm a bit disappointed that my attempts to bring Sami Hyypia back failed.

"It only failed because he's so important to Bayer Leverkusen. We couldn't get him out of his contract. He's one I would also put in the Jamie Carragher-Steven Gerrard mould - Liverpool for life.

"Unfortunately he was let go at the end of the season before last and we can't get him back. He's too valuable to them."

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