' MINI-EXODUS AT LIVERPOOL, COULD INTEREST CARDIFF '

The eight talented Liverpool FC youngsters who could interest Cardiff City this summer

By Phil Smith

Thursday July 28th

Of all the clubs in the Premier League right now, Liverpool boast a raft of talented youngsters on the fringes of the first team or in their academy that could potentially head out on loan in the coming weeks.

Reports in Liverpool suggest a "mini-exodus" of young stars is on the cards as Jurgen Klopp looks to give the players of the future a chance to develop.

The Anfield side's insistence that all players heading out on loan play 75% of matches is reportedly putting many off, so could there be a chance for a club like Cardiff City to make a move?

Here we look at the potential options, including two talented young Welshmen who could fit the bill.

Ben Woodburn

Cardiff City know all about him after a stunning goal for Liverpool in their 3-0 win over the Bluebirds last January in the FA Youth Cup.

Having captained Wales at under-17 level, Woodburn has been included in Liverpool’s under-23 squad for the coming season having impressed Klopp in pre-season games for the Reds.

Ovie Ejaria

The 18-year-old turned in a superb performance for Liverpool in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in a Los Angeles friendly this week.

Has energy to burn and his ability on the ball is way beyond his teenage years.


Harry Wilson

The 19-year-old Wrexham-born winger has already ripped up the record books being the youngest ever player to play for Wales, at the age of 16 years and 207 days, beating a record previously held by Gareth Bale.


Kevin Stewart

The 22-year-old midfielder was handed his Premier League debut in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Stoke at the back end of last season after a two-month spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament problems.


Cameron Brannagan

Brannagan believes a spell away from Liverpool this season would boost his long-term ambitions to become an Anfield regular.

A proposed loan move to Wigan collapsed last week after they couldn’t agree to the Reds’ demands about playing time for the young midfielder.

However, attacking midfielder Brannagan is still expected to depart before the season starts with a host of Championship clubs keen to secure his services.

The 20-year-old Academy gradate, who made nine appearances last season, is highly rated by Jurgen Klopp.

Sheyi Ojo

The England Under-19 international is one of the future jewels in Liverpool’s crown and a player Jurgen Klopp is reported to be reluctant to send out on loan this summer.


Connor Randall

The 20-year-old right-back was one of a number of youngsters to make the breakthrough into the senior ranks last season.


Pedro Chirivella

The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined the club’s Academy from Valencia in the summer of 2013, has made four appearances in total – including a maiden start at West Ham United in the FA Cup.

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Undoubtedly some very talented youngsters there but it's a big gamble at Championship to guarantee that you'll pick them for 75% of games!

You' defectively be playing three quarters of a season with 10 men if the player didn't live up to their potential.

Clubs in League 1 or League 2 may be a lot more willing to agree to Liverpool's conditions but would that standard be high enough for them to get the experience Liverpool want?

Didn't Newcastle reportedly insist on something similar for Ameobi. That didn't happen. If the player isn't performing then they will be dropped, and Liverpool would be fully aware of that.

Impossible to enforce.

Didn't Newcastle reportedly insist on something similar for Ameobi. That didn't happen. If the player isn't performing then they will be dropped, and Liverpool would be fully aware of that.

Impossible to enforce.

I'm sure Newcastle put in that Ameobi must feature in every match day squad but doesn't have to start or necessarily come on. If memory serves me right

Didn't Newcastle reportedly insist on something similar for Ameobi. That didn't happen. If the player isn't performing then they will be dropped, and Liverpool would be fully aware of that.

Impossible to enforce.

I'm sure Newcastle put in that Ameobi must feature in every match day squad but doesn't have to start or necessarily come on. If memory serves me right

That sounds familiar

Loaning players from Premier League clubs is all well and good but I think it is pretty impossible for a Championship side with serious ambition to carry deadwood in the side just because the parent club says it must be so

Amoebi was a good example of what can go wrong (rarely stepped up to the mark) and worse IMHO was that he stopped some of the existing Bluebird Development Squad players getting an opportunity; although Slade (his biggest fault) must take a large portion of blame for that

I think one of Paul Trollope's strengths will be the utilisation of the 'best players for the job' and not based on personality or because someone else told him to do so!

Harry Wilson

Ojo.