Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
Liverpool’s youth products have been shining lights so far this season.
Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Jayden Danns all appeared for the first team against Southampton in the EFL Cup in midweek.
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And under-21 captain Amara Nallo was on the bench alongside 16-year-old phenom Rio Ngumoha.
Ngumoha in particular has been a fascinating case as Liverpool brought him in from Chelsea’s academy in the summer - a move that led to Reds scouts having their access rights to Chelsea youth games revoked.
Rumours emerged through the week that Liverpool could be at it again, keeping tabs on Sunderland’s emerging youth striker Trey Ogunsuyi.
And they also might be trying to weaken Arsenal.
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TBR Football correspondent Graeme Bailey is reporting that Liverpool are among the clubs interested in Gunners starlet Ayden Heaven, who has once again recently rejected a professional contract from his club.
Heaven is a raved-about talent, making his first-team debut with a 10-minute cameo in a 3-0 win over Preston North End in the EFL Cup fourth round.
He has also made multiple first-team matchday squads this season, including three in the Premier League and in Arsenal’s most recent Champions League outing against Monaco.
Heaven has, naturally, impressed for the under-21s. In the same report, Arsenal youth expert Jeorge Bird describes Heaven as “composed in possession and reads the game very well, while he relishes bringing the ball out from the back when the opportunity arises.”
MAX DOWMAN NEARLY! Ayden Heaven finds Dowman with an all-world diagonal. Dowman skips past 2 defenders before almost curling it into the top corner.pic.twitter.com/046vW1URAK
— Will Balsam (@willbalsam) October 1, 2024
Mikel Arteta was also high on praise for the player after a mistake against Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund in pre-season.
“Very impressive.” Arteta said, “At 17, I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this.
“He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world, it can happen.
“But the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.”
If this is the case, signing him would be a real coup for Liverpool. Alongside the exciting Nallo, Liverpool would have one of the best youth defensive partnerships in the world.
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