Liverpool are in talks to sign the highly-rated Derby County midfielder Kaide Gordon from the Championship side.
The 16-year old has also attracted interest from fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs. However, the Liverpool Echo report that they understand a fee of £1M will be enough to sign Gordon. They also report that the fee will likely rise to £3M with add-ons.
Despite Gordon not being able to sign his first professional contract till later this year due to his age, Liverpool remain confident.
Liverpool have a good record of giving their young stars game time in the first team under Jurgen Klopp. The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliot have all made the transition from youth team to first team.
The hope will be that Kaide Gordon will be the next player to make that step once a deal has agreed. The youngster has made just one substitute appearance this season during his sides 4-0 win away Birmingham City last month.
The signing of Kaide Gordon will not be one for the now but a signing for the future. A move to Liverpool due to their commitment in their younger players, could be the selling point.
Does a move make sense for the club?
Despite his age there is a big buzz around the England U-16 international, and making one senior appearance will add to that. The need to get the next ‘big star’ ahead of your league rivals is forcing clubs to sign these younger players earlier.
Liverpool’s track record of signing young English players echoes this. The club signed Dominic Solanke, Jordan Ibe, Raheem Sterling and Harvey Elliot from academies and youth teams in this county
The signing of Gordon would see Liverpool having a hand full of players that have played in their youth team and making the transition. If we fast forward five years, Gordon would be 21-years old and could still be playing with Gomez (28), Alexander-Arnold (27), Jones and Williams (24) and Elliot (22).
The club would still have young players from Klopp’s team ready to hand over to a new manager, whenever that should happen.
At just £1m and being able to jump the queue ahead of United and Spurs, this deal is a low risk and should be done.