Liverpool have had to change their approach to academy recruitment in recent years, along with every other Premier League side, with Brexit transfer rules ensuring they could no longer sign players under the age of 18 from Europe.
Reports earlier this week claimed clubs are in talks with the Premier League to change such rules, with the current system currently under review. But regardless of whatever happens next on that front, the Reds have made the best of the situation, at least, when it comes to acquiring British talent instead.
Of course, Liverpool had plenty of time to plan for such changes, right down to making Stefan Bajcetic the last overseas Under-18s player snapped up before the new laws were implemented in January 2021, as a deal was completed at the last possible opportunity in a £224k deal from Celta Vigo in December 2020. Meanwhile, now scouring a market closer to home for the most promising homegrown talent, the Reds’ enforced change of tack would see them sign Kaide Gordon in a deal worth up to £3m from Derby County in February 2021 and part with up to £1.5m to bring in Bobby Clark from Newcastle United six months later.
