Liverpool have paid Derby County around £500,000 to have the sell-on clause from Kaide Gordon's contract removed.
The Reds signed the teenager from the Rams in January 2021 after watching him make his Championship debut under Wayne Rooney the previous month and the 17-year-old moved to Anfield for a fee that was undisclosed at the time.
It was understood that figure actually stood at around £1.5m and Liverpool have now moved to offer the cash-strapped Derby a further £500,000 to take out the 20% sell-on clause that was written into Gordon's contract when he moved to Merseyside.
The ECHO understands sporting director Michael Edwards spoke to Derby County officials during the negotiating process and the recently-relegated Championship side accepted the terms due to the financial plight they find themselves in.
The fee is viewed as a much-needed boost for Derby after their relegation to League One was confirmed last month following a season that has involved administration, a points deduction and a protracted takeover saga.
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From Liverpool's perspective, it represents smart business given Gordon has already made his senior debut at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp. It was back in September when the young winger started a Carabao Cup tie against Norwich and he has since made a further three appearances that included the semi-final of that tournament away at Arsenal in January.
Gordon also registered his first goal for Liverpool in the 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup and the new deal with Derby is a move that is likely to save Liverpool millions further down the line should he develop as hoped. It may also prove to be one of the last acts for Edwards in his role as sporting director.
Edwards, who was officially appointed as Liverpool's first-ever sporting director in 2016, is set to leave at the end of the campaign before handing over the reins to Julian Ward, who has taken a more hands-on approach as the campaign has gone on at Anfield this term.
