Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon is in high demand ahead of the summer, with Liverpool among those said to be interested in signing the left-back.
Sessegnon has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Craven Cottage in 2016/17, establishing himself in Slavisa Jokanovic’s first team, making 16 appearances so far.
This has seen the 16-year-old score four goals and assist a further two, including a strike in Fulham‘s recent 4-1 victory at home to Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round.
Sessegnon, who will turn 17 in May, is already a wanted man according to Squawka, who name the Reds among five clubs interested.
And Liverpool are said to be “leading the race” ahead of Man United, Man City, Spurs and Arsenal, with Fulham seeking £15 million for his services.
This could see Jurgen Klopp baulk at their demands, though he is said to have already made an enquiry as to Sessegnon’s availability in January.
Klopp also contacted Nottingham Forest regarding 17-year-old striker Ben Brereton, with recent reports claiming the Reds saw a £2.5 million bid rejected during the transfer window.
Fulham are believed to be willing to sell Sessegnon when he signs a professional contract with the club at the end of the season, but are hoping to agree a loan-back clause in any deal.
It would be no surprise if Klopp did move to sign another left-back in the summer, despite recent claims that he is content with James Milner and Alberto Moreno as his senior options.
Milner enjoyed a thoroughly positive start to the season, but has since suffered a drop-off in form, while Moreno is clearly not fully trusted.
But whether Sessegnon is the solution is hugely questionable, despite his vast potential as a young left-back.
That he would only have just turned 17 is a major red flag, for example, despite Klopp’s faith in youth, with the similarly aged Trent Alexander-Arnold only given minimal game time so far.
Furthermore, that Fulham are supposedly seeking £15 million for Alexander-Arnold’s England U19s team-mate is significant, with Klopp unwilling to pay over the odds for any player.
That this speculation comes from Squawka, rather than any of the regular Liverpool press gang, also casts further doubt over the deal.
Nevertheless, Sessegnon is a player who has been frequently linked with the Reds, and it may be one worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.
Fan Comments