Andoni Iraola Liverpool
© IMAGO - Andoni Iraola Liverpool
Liverpool have got a gaping hole on the right side of their attack.
Mohamed Salah has left the club having reached an agreement to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early. And Federico Chiesa - a deputy in the position - is also likely to leave if the right bid materialises from Serie A.
The outgoing Premier League champions have had no luck in sourcing a new starting right wing option.
Yan Diomande - the overwhelming favourite - isn’t available to the Reds any longer. Other wingers have been mentioned from Bradley Barcola to Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Yankuba Minteh and Said El Mala.
Josh Abe jets out on preseason tour
But Richard Hughes has so far failed to land that much-needed Salah replacement. And by the time the Anfield club embark on their preseason tour under Andoni Iraola next week there is a glaring lack of top-quality options.
But one player set to play a role on the US tour - and who may even make a non-competitive senior debut - is Josh Abe. The homegrown winger has inked a new deal - witha view to signing a longer-term contractonce he turns 17 next year.
Josh Abe agrees new deal
Having recovered from a bad injury suffered at the back end of the season Abe is now raring to go. He turned down interest from Manchester City - said to be a deal worth £50k per week - in favour of striking out for success with the Reds.
And according to a report in the Athletic the 15-year-old is likely to benefit on the preseason tour from Richard Hughes’ inability to land a right winger.
“Such is the excitement around Abe (who turns 16 on July 17), that upon signing his scholarship, he was given a first-team squad number for the 2026-27 season and he will be part of Liverpool’s tour to the United States,” the report reads.
“There will be playing time opportunities due to the lack of right-wing options, which will only help his development.”
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Josh Abe will feature on preseason tour
Abe has already been called up to train with the first team and looks set for a glorious first-team career with the Merseysiders.
The Warrington-born forward has been with the club since the age of four - stepping up to under-18 and UEFA Youth League levels last season.
This special talent will now have a chance to show what he can do with Iraola’s side going Stateside next week.