Reports have emerged that Liverpool are on the verge of completing the signing of 16-year-old Derby County winger Kaide Gordon. It would be Liverpool’s first signing of the January transfer window.
Liverpool are expected to pay £1 million up front, although the deal could rise to £3 million in add ons.
Liverpool Set to Sign Kaide Gordon From Derby County
Who is Kaide Gordon?
After joining the club at the age of nine, Gordon became the clubs’ fourth-youngest player to make a first-team appearance when he came off the bench in Derby’s recent 4-0 victory against Birmingham City.
An attacker who likes to play on the right-hand side of an attacking three, Gordon has been capped at England U16 and U17 levels. Gordon was also voted Derby’s academy player of the year for 2019/2020 season.
According to the Derby Telegraph, Liverpool have had to stave off competition from several other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, for Gordon’s signature.
Despite an embarrassment of attacking riches and a squad packed full of quality, Jurgen Klopp has already shown he isn’t afraid to place his trust within Liverpool’s academy. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, and Neco Williams are just a handful of academy stars who have been given first-team debuts. Gordon would hope to be the next.
Although the deal is yet to be finalised, it is expected to be completed before the end of this month’s transfer window.
Wayne Rooney Wants Gordon Stay
Newly appointed Derby boss Wayne Rooney spoke recently about his desire for Gordon to continue his development at the club.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph Rooney said: “Kaide is a fantastic player and he has got a lot of potential. He has come through the academy. He is 16, he has got a lot of development to do and he is definitely at the right place to do that.
“Of course there will be interest in Kaide because he is a fantastic player, so we expect there to be interest in him. We can control what we are doing at this football club, but we can’t control if other teams make bids for our players.”
Rooney is working under a cloud of uncertainty with Derby’s proposed takeover still very much in the balance. With the club recently admitting that staff hadn’t been paid for December.
Despite Rooney’s best wishes, the sale of Gordon could help provide the club with a much-needed cash injection until a takeover is eventually completed.
Main Photo
