Liverpool forward Anthony Le Tallec could now have played his last game for the Reds after he joined French side Sochaux on loan today.
The loan runs for twelve months, but Sochaux have an option to buy him at the end of the loan period.
As a teenager Le Tallec had been seen as showing all the signs of being a world class player, and Gerard Houllier was happy to see him hyped up as such. Under Houllier however the player spent a lot of time back out on loan.
The 21-year-old got off on the wrong foot with Rafael Benitez, practically demanding a first-team place as soon as the Spanish boss arrived on Merseyside. Rafa answered that by sending him out on loan. He did get to play in Liverpool’s successful Champions League campain in 2005, but was again loaned out last season, this time to Sunderland.
Clearly no longer part of any plans for Rafael Benitez, Le Tallec didn’t even get a squad number when the club announced the new numbers for this season.