Liverpool and Man United are both reliably reported to have submitted offers to sign Sheffield Wednesday left-back Yisa Alao, who is yet to sign a professional contract.
Alao, 17, has been part of the Sheffield Wednesday academy since joining at under-7s level and has already played three times for their first team.
His debut came against Bolton in the first round of the Carabao Cup in August, before another outing against Grimsby in the third round the following month and then, on Monday night, off the bench against Derby in the Championship.
The teenager’s exposure to Henrik Pedersen’s side comes with Sheffield Wednesday in administration and a number of clubs vying for his signature.
Transfer briefing: Liverpool and Man United race for Yisa Alao
• The 6-figure battle: Liverpool and Man United have reportedly submitted offers in the region of £500,000 for Sheffield Wednesday’s 17-year-old left-back Yisa Alao.
• Financial crisis: With Wednesday currently in administration and rooted to the bottom of the Championship, the Owls may be forced to sell their academy talent before he signs a professional contract.
• Defensive reset: Liverpool could view Alao as a key addition to their academy lineage, especially with Andy Robertson in the final year of his deal and Kostas Tsimikas expected to depart permanently.
According to the Sheffield Star, Liverpool and Man United have both made bids to sign Alao in the “mid-level six-figure region.”
That would suggest a fee of around £500,000 for the left-back, with BBC Radio Sheffield having already reported “a number of offers” from Premier League clubs.
Sheffield Wednesday are yet to accept any offer for their No. 33 and have been looking to tie him down to a professional contract.
Keep an eye on this kid, by the way… Yisa Alao at Sheffield Wednesday.
Still an U16 player, but played for #SWFC’s U21s yesterday. Very exciting young full back. pic.twitter.com/o990JFkAAD
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) April 29, 2025
But clearly their perilous financial position – along with the lure of joining an academy of the calibre of Liverpool’s – could work against a side rooted to the bottom of the Championship with -9 points.
The Owls were placed in administration in October for a number of financial issues under former owner Dejphon Chansiri, which incurred an automatic 12-point deduction.
That has left them 26 points behind Norwich at the bottom of the English second tier and clearly favourites to drop down to League One next season.
Liverpool are always attentive to market opportunities and their interest in Alao is understandable given the situation at left-back in their academy.
Liverpool’s left-back situation: From the academy up
Andy Robertson has lost his starting place to £40million summer signing Milos Kerkez (Richard Sellers/PA)
On paper the Reds are well-stocked with the likes of Owen Beck, Luke Chambers, Calum Scanlon and James Norris, but they are now 23, 21, 20 and 22 respectively and Beck, Chambers and Scanlon have suffered long-term injuries.
There are high hopes for Clae Ewing, 18, and Cam Williams, 16, but both are working through fitness issues of their own and in recent months midfielder Alvin Ayman, 18, has been required to fill in as left-back for the U18s.
Alao’s experience in the Sheffield Wednesday first team would be seen as a major advantage, particularly as Liverpool map out a new lineage in the position.
Milos Kerkez is established as Arne Slot‘s new long-term left-back but Andy Robertson is into the final year of his contract and Kostas Tsimikas is expected to leave permanently after his loan spell at AS Roma.