Jordon Ibe has undoubtedly been the find of the season for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, so it’s pleasing to see that the Reds are edging closer to tying the youngster down a new long-term contract (via the Liverpool Echo).
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Liverpool transfer news
It’s certainly been a rapid rise for the 19-year-old starlet, who finished last season on loan at Birmingham City and started the current campaign with Derby County. Twelve months on and it’s hard to imagine our best team without him.
His success has led us to question whether more Liverpool youngsters deserve a shot at the first-team. With a pre-season campaign rapidly approaching, Rodgers has the ideal opportunity to bed a number of the stars that we highlight below and see how they interact with the first-team.
Here are eight players we’d like to see more of come the summer tours…
8) Jordan Williams
The 19-year-old signed a new deal with the Reds earlier this year after appearing in our match-day squad on a handful of occasions. He made his debut against Middlesbrough in the League Cup back in September and is currently on loan with League One strugglers Notts County. A versatile star who can play defence or midfield.
7) Harry Wilson
Wilson is already a full Welsh international. Anyone that’s playing in the same team as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey at the age of 18 surely needs to be given the chance to prove himself with the first-team. The winger signed his first professional contract with the Reds last summer after being joint top scorer in the Ajax Future Cup.
6) Jordan Rossiter
Scored on debut against Middlesbrough last year and it’s come as a surprise to many people that he’s not been given an opportunity since then. The current captain of our Under-19s and an England youth team international, there’s nothing to suggest that the teenager couldn’t play a bit-part role for Brendan Rodgers next season.
5) Cameron Brannagan
Looked highly impressive during the Anfield charity match and has since been among the first-team substitutes on a number of occasions. The 18-year-old plays just behind the striker and while the Reds currently have a wealth of options in that position, he’s definitely worth consideration in the near future.
4) Joao Carlos Teixeira
The 22-year-old has had a fine season with Championship strugglers Brighton, one that has been cruelly cut short by a broken leg. He’s scored six goals in 32 league appearances for Chris Hughton, helping guide them to safety. Such numbers suggest that he at least deserves another chance at Liverpool following his recovery.
3) Sheyi Ojo
The winger was named man-of-the-match on his debut for Championship side Wigan Athletic earlier this year, for whom he has since gone on to make 11 league appearances. Still only 17, it’s easy to draw the comparisons between Ojo and current first-team squad members Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe. We’d love another one of those!
2) Samed Yesil
The once free-scoring German striker has been enduring a torrid time of it at Liverpool, with his first three years at the club plagued by injuries. Nonetheless, he’s still only 20 and there’s plenty of room for him to improve. He’s made a very positive return to the youth team in recent weeks, scoring twice against Tottenham earlier this week.
1) Jerome Sinclair
The youngest player to ever star in a competitive fixture for the Reds, having made his first-team bow just six days after his 16th birthday back in 2012. Almost three years on and he’s still awaiting his second appearance in the famous red. He’s done well with the academy team again in 2015 and earned himself a loan move Wigan in March.
