Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
Liverpool have been fending off interest for a number of their stars throughout the season, with big clubs linked with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has had his work cut out in his short time at the club, having only managed to secure two signings during the summer transfer window: Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia and Federico Chiesa from Juventus, who has already been linked with a move back to Italy.
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Despite this, Liverpool have had plenty of success in the loan market this season, having sent a number of young players out to other clubs to gain experience.
Ben Doak has been on fire for Middlesborough and has become one of Scotland’s most influential players over the past few months, while Owen Beck has impressed at promotion-chasing Blackburn in the Championship as well.
Liverpool have used the loan market to good effect in recent seasons, and one player who has spent plenty of time away from the club has been subject to a new offer this week.
Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams, Jordan Henderson, Alisson Liverpool
© IMAGO - Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams, Jordan Henderson, Alisson Liverpool
Morecambe want to extend Williams loan deal
According to the Lancaster Guardian Morecambe have been in contact with Liverpool and have asked to extend Rhys Williams’ loan spell at the club.
The 23-year-old joined the League Two side during the summer and has featured in 19 games for in all competitions this season - the joint-second most he has played in a single season in his career so far.
It has been a difficult season for Morecambe, who are 23rd in the division and are battling against what would be a devastating relegation out of the football league.
Morecambe Derek Adams manager praised Williams and confirmed they have made contact with Liverpool over extending his loan.
“I’ve spoken to Liverpool and we’ve asked for his loan to be extended," Adams said.
“He’s been excellent for us and it’s given him an opportunity to play week in week out, which he needs and wants. He’s improving with every game and that’s the beauty of a loan, he gets an opportunity to go elsewhere and play.
“He’s come in here and been able to get 90 minutes every week so, hopefully, we can have him until the end of the season.
“Then, when he does go back at the end of the season, he’ll do so as someone who’s played 40-odd games and got regular football under his belt.”
© IMAGO
‘Incredible’ Rhys Williams
Rhys Williams made his Liverpool debut during the 2020/21 season - one in which Jurgen Klopp’s side had a huge defensive injury crisis that led to Williams and Nat Phillips making a number of appearances at centre back after Virgil van Dijk tore his ACL following a horror tackle from Everton’s Jordon Pickford.
It was a memorable season for the Reds for a number of reasons, not least of which was the 10-game unbeaten run that Klopp’s side put together at the back-end of the season which secured a Champions League spot for the following year.
Liverpool of course made the Champions League final in that season, and Klopp hailed Williams as one of the reasons for their success.
"I messaged Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips - we wouldn't be there without them,” Klopp reminisced after the final against Real Madrid.
“I remember the final game of last season and they left the pitch with a bandage around the head, cuts on their faces, and that was really a symbol for the whole period.
"Hopefully nobody forgot how hard we fought to get here. We felt it mentally. We had no centre-halves, had to play midfielders in the last line, then had to use other players in midfield and nothing worked really.
"In the end, we played with two incredible players - Rhys and Nat - but we couldn't use them earlier because they needed time to adapt. So, yes there was a bit of a point to prove and I'm really happy that the boys did that."
He has already been on loan a number of times, at Swansea, Blackpool, Aberdeen and Port Vale, but had trouble cementing a regular starting spot at any of those sides, and will be hoping that his spell in League Two will help him secure a permanent move away from Anfield as it is unlikely at this stage that he will trouble Arne Slot's starting lineup next season.
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