Liverpool has rejected a bid for one of its promising young stars, with a Premier League rival making a late move for a player Andoni Iraola is looking to progress in the coming season.
Trey Nyoni of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Monaco
Trey Nyoni has been the subject of interest elsewhere in the Premier League(Image: (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Liverpool has rejected a bid from Nottingham Forest for promising midfielder Trey Nyoni, as a late move for the 19-year-old has been turned down.
That's according to Paul Joyce, who claims that a total package worth $40 million was lodged by the Premier League side, in the hope of completing a deal for the youngster. However, Liverpool's rejection sets a clear stance that no sale will be agreed, as Andoni Iraola views the academy prospect as a valuable member of the senior team moving forward.
The approach followed Nottingham Forest's attempt to sign Harrison Armstrong from Everton, after an initial accepted bid for the midfielder was rescinded by the Toffees, following fan backlash.
The switch to Nyoni was seemingly in response to that, but Oliver Glasner's side may have to look elsewhere now, with Nyoni set to stay and be part of the team under the new head coach.
The 19-year-old featured on occasion last season, but there is hope that this campaign can be a true breakout one for him, in a similar vein to Rio Ngumoha's breakthrough last time out.
Nyoni was one of the standout stars of the preseason tour of the US, showing an ability to control the ball well amid all of the chaos that can come with Iraola's style of play.
"Trey is very good on the ball - very calm," Iraola said during the preseason tour, singing the youngster's praises. "He reads the situations well.
Young Liverpool duo Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha.
Young Liverpool duo Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)
"We're forcing him in the work without the ball, in the press, and he is absolutely doing very well. I think the timings of the jumps are very good. He is always confident on the ball so we encourage him."
So far, Nyoni has been handed 13 minutes of action after coming on as a substitute against his suitors, Nottingham Forest, as he looked to help the side land a positive result.
The former Leicester midfielder could grow into the campaign, with some concerns of the lack of depth in the team roster, and the challenges of balancing the Premier League alongside the Champions League and both domestic cups.
Equally, the academy prospect could be a solution to the midfield worries that exist so far. The current senior options are all attack-minded, which has left the team open at times on transition, leading to calls for a new signing to combat those problems.
That seems unlikely, but Nyoni could make himself an option to do just that, having shown all the hallmarks of a player who could cover the area well, hence Liverpool deciding to keep him.