EXCLUSIVE: After Liverpool disappointment, Awoniyi sets sight on Premier League return

The Union Berlin attacker was on the books of Liverpool for six years but never had an opportunity to play for the Reds

Union Berlin attacker has revealed his disappointment with his inability to get playing opportunities at Liverpool.

Awoniyi was sent on loan for six seasons when he was on Liverpool’s roster but the absence of a work permit ensured he never kicked a ball at Anfield.

After playing in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Awoniyi finally settled for a permanent move to Union following an impressive loan spell.

He has scored 13 Bundesliga goals this season, the highest in the history of the club in a single season.

Awoniyi, however is a big fan of the Premier League and has set his sights on a return.

With West Ham United strongly linked to the Nigerian, he may finally achieve his lifelong desire of making a Premier League move.

In an exclusive interview with Soccernet, the attacker disclosed his disappointment with the lack of opportunities at Liverpool but said he has grown and has moved on from that phase.

“As a football player, I’ve been in happy and sad moments but my time in Liverpool was one of the best things that happened to me as a football player. I’ve been to different clubs and country, different atmosphere everywhere. Going through all those stages, all those clubs is a long story. I may need to sit down for more than an hour to explain what happened at each of those clubs,” Awoniyi told Soccernet.

“Last year when I decided to leave, they had other options for me to stay or to go on another loan and the chances we got to stay in the Premier League was not enough for me to stay in the league. I said I’ve been to Union Berlin, they know me at the club, let me decide to come back there and sign permanently and we’ll se what happens.

“If I say I’m disappointed not playing in Liverpool, yes of course. I left when I got my work permit which I worked for many years for. Getting it and having to leave at the end of the day is something I was sad about, but life goes on. We keep on working.”

West Ham may be set to fork out €20m for the attacker, just one season after he left Liverpool for the German capital in a €5m move.