Kaide Gordon has been hailed as the best 16-year-old in the country by Derby boss Wayne Rooney (Getty Images)
According to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett (h/t Derbyshire Live), Liverpool are keeping close tabs on highly-rated Derby County starlet Kaide Gordon in the January transfer window.
The reigning Premier League champions face competition in their pursuit of the 16-year-old, however, with Man United also monitoring the Rams graduate. It has been claimed that the attacking midfielder could depart Pride Park for a fee in excess of £1million including a variety of sell-on clauses as a part of an agreement.
A youth exponent of Derby, Gordon recently made his debut as a late substitute in the Rams’ 4-0 win over Birmingham City in the Championship on December 29. That remains his only senior competitive outing for the club but that hasn’t deterred the Premier League heavyweights from firming up their interest in the teenager.
Derby boss Wayne Rooney hyped up Gordon following his first-team debut last month, hailing him as the best 16-year-old in the country. The youngster, who can play as an attacking midfielder and also as a winger, has also represented England at the U-16 level.
Gordon was named the club’s Academy Player of the Year last term and has been a regular fixture in the Rams’ U-18 side, accumulating 3 goals and an assist in 5 appearances in the U-18 PL.
Liverpool have made great strides in their recruitment drive at the youth and reserve level in recent windows. The Reds roped in a number of talented teenagers in the form of Mateusz Musialowski, Fabian Mrozek and Melkamu Frauendorf this past summer. That represented a continuation of the club’s transfer policy to build a strong platform for the future.
Putting things into context, Kaide Gordon would make an excellent long-term investment for any top Premier League club. Liverpool, though, would bag a real coup if they manage to fend off competition from Man United in the race to sign the highly-rated Derby County starlet.
The teenager has earned plaudits from a Premier League legend like Rooney, so it would be fair to assume that there’s certainly something special about him.
That he has already made his senior breakthrough at Derby in the Championship at the tender age of 16 speaks volumes of his talent and potential. Having said that, however, Gordon is hardly the finished article and would need to go through several stages in his development curve if he does complete a move to Liverpool.
The teenager certainly needs more exposure before evolving into a player capable of challenging for a place in the Reds’ senior ranks.
Liverpool’s quest to unearth hidden gems has seen them cherry-pick plenty of young talents from across the continent. As for Kaide Gordon, he ticks the box as a homegrown starlet in English football, thus making him a more appealing target for the Reds.
The 16-year-old has already started to rub shoulders with the senior pros and would surely represent a smart acquisition with an eye on the future.