Liverpool are reportedly set to slap a £25 million price tag on academy graduate Harry Wilson, amid interest from Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Liverpool have reluctantly slapped a £25 million price tag on Harry Wilson. The 22-year-old Welsh international is the subject of interest from Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa, although neither club has made a formal approach yet.
The report stresses that Jurgen Klopp is aware of the interest in the talented winger, but is keen to fight it off and integrate him in his squad. Liverpool will not loan Wilson out for a fourth time after successful spells at Hull City and Derby County, although the Reds will unwillingly have to sell if he puts his foot down over a move, which is why they will ask for £25 million in his exchange.
Harry Wilson is one of the most promising players to have emanated out of the Liverpool academy in recent years. But, while he has been rated highly by the coaches at the Merseyside club, his pathway to the first-team squad has been blocked due to the presence of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and the now-departed Philippe Coutinho.
As a result, the Welshman has spent the last 18 months away from Anfield, on two separate loan spells. The first of these spells saw him spend the second half of the 2017-18 season with Hull City, where he had a fine return of 7 goals and 4 assists in 13 outings in the EFL Championship.
But, it is over the course of the 2018-19 season that he impressed even further, spending the campaign with Derby County. And, the Liverpool academy graduate never missed a game for the Rams when he was available, making 49 appearances across all competitions, with a tally of 18 goals and 8 assists.
Now back to Anfield, Wilson is with Klopp’s squad for the Reds’ pre-season campaign, wherein he has impressed in the absence of Mane and Salah. And, with last season’s Premier League Golden Boot joint winners set to join the squad late, the Liverpool boss has given assurances of a larger role in the upcoming season, starting with a place in the opening game against Norwich City.
But, the 22-year-old is also reportedly courting interest from Premier League clubs, which has left Liverpool concerned over his head turning. Indeed, at Liverpool, Wilson is only likely to get a squad role, with Mane and Salah firmly established as the first-choice wingers.
While Klopp is eager to retain the services of Wilson, whose presence would enable him to rotate his star players better, the Liverpool boss and the club hierarchy also accept that they cannot stand in the player’s way if he intends to keep on continuing his development by playing regular football in the 2019-20 season.
With a loan move not being an option, a £25 million price tag has been slapped on Harry Wilson and it remains to be seen if Newcastle, Aston Villa or any other club are ready to spend the requited amount to land the Welshman this summer.
