Liverpool are reportedly plotting a late swoop for Ghanaian wonderkid Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who is closing in on a transfer to German outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
According to a report from Goal.com, Premier League bigwigs Liverpool are plotting to beat Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen to the signing of 17-year-old Ghanaian prodigy Abdul Fatawu Issahaku in the summer transfer window.
Issahaku currently plies his trade for Ghanaian second division club Steadfast FC but has already been making quite the waves, leading to interest from the who’s who of European football. The 17-year-old attacker, who can play on the flanks or as a No. 10, has enjoyed quite the year so far.
Issahaku started 2021 in the Ghanaian Under-17 team but found himself getting bumped up to the Under-20s in February, for whom he has two goals in six appearances. The teenager was then fast-tracked into the senior squad of the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in March, although he did not make his debut.
However, Issahaku has once again been named in the Ghana squad for the upcoming friendlies against Morocco and Ivory Coast next month, where the teenager is expected to get his first cap. And, his rise to prominence with the African giants has now seen the 17-year-old attract interest from the likes of Udinese, Nordsjaelland, Red Bull Salzburg, FC Basel, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen as well as Liverpool.
In fact, the report claims that Bayer Leverkusen are the favourites to sign Issahaku, but Liverpool, along with Dortmund, are hoping to make a last-ditch attempt to try and beat the Bundesliga outfit to the signing of the teenage sensation.
Liverpool have been strengthening their youth ranks significantly, with the likes of Rhys Williams, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams all going to make an impact at the first-team level, not to forget Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has already established himself as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.
So, it is only understandable that the Reds would look to bolster their age group and reserve sides to develop and push through more and more players into the first-team, with Harvey Elliott expected to be next in line after impressing on loan at Blackburn Rovers. To that end, they have recently been linked with a move for Aston Villa prodigy Carney Chukwuemeka.
In addition, Liverpool also recently handed a trial to Hibernian FC’s 16-year-old forward Ethan Laidlaw. Now, Issahaku seems to be the latest youngster on the Reds’ radar, although they will have their task cut out to pry the £2 million-rated teenager away from Bayer Leverkusen, who are said to be close to completing his signing.
