Liverpool's English midfielder #91 Luca Stephenson (L) vies for the ball with Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard (R) during the pre-season club friendly football match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool's English midfielder #91 Luca Stephenson (L) vies for the ball with Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard (R) during the pre-season club friendly football match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Liverpool defender has spent the past two seasons out on loan.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin admits that his side will likely be priced out of a move to sign Liverpool youngster Luca Stephenson in the summer transfer window.
Stephenson has spent the past two seasons on loan at the Scottish side and been one of their standout performers. In total, he has recorded eight goals and seven assists from 67 appearances and was awarded the club’s young player of the year last campaign.
Stpehenson has played in numerous positions for the Terrors, although his 2025-26 season has come to an end because of a hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old remains under contract with Liverpool and been part of the past two pre-season tours to the USA and the Far East respectively.
In truth, a first-team breakthrough at Anfield is unlikely for Stephenson. He will want to find a permanent home and continue his promising progress. But that is unlikely to be at Dundee United as Goodwin reckons that Stephenson will command a ‘considerable transfer fee’.
Via The Courier, Goodwin said: “Can he (Luca) come back again? Honestly, my feeling is that Luca wants to be somewhere permanently,” Goodwin said.
“He has been on loan for a few successive seasons – his time at Dundee United is the longest he’s stayed anywhere for a considerable period – and I’d expect him to want that stability and chance to kick on.
“Luca is under contract at Liverpool and, given how well he’s done here, I think that would be a considerable transfer fee.”
Stpehenson may well have to wait until later in to 2026-27 pre-season if he is to leave Liverpool. The Reds will see the vast majority of their squad participating at the World Cup, including right-back Jeremie Frimpong, centre-halves Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and midfielders Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo.
Therefore, Stephenson may need to supplement the Reds’ squad for their pre-season tour of the USA. Liverpool are set to play friendlies against Sunderland, Leeds United and Wrexham.
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