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Liverpool transfer issue explained as loan deal highlights difficulties
Liverpool supporters will hope the imminent arrival of Alexis Mac Allister is the first of several high-profile signings this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to remould his squad after a season of underachievement.
But there’s one area in which the Reds are guaranteed to be busy during the transfer window regardless.
Once again, Liverpool will look to give senior exposure and experience to a clutch of Academy players by negotiating loan deals elsewhere over the summer.
It can often be a portent of what’s to come. In truth, there have been few players who have returned from loan moves and forged a career at Liverpool, certainly not when having come through the ranks of the Academy.
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Harvey Elliott is a recent exception after making a consistent first-team breakthrough following a season on loan in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, while Nat Phillips took his chance after coming back from Stuttgart.
And some have excelled elsewhere. Earlier in the Premier League era, Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly, Jonjo Shelvey and Stephen Warnock went on to have decent careers, albeit the large chunk of which was spent away from Anfield. And Harry Wilson is now a top-flight regular with Fulham.
The ongoing impact of Elliott demonstrates a loan move can still be of great benefit if the talent is already there – something for Fabio Carvalho to perhaps take note – with Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff more than willing to offer opportunities to the next generation.
There have been contrasting experiences this season for Liverpool loanees. A significant number were recalled early in January after difficult spells away – such as centre-backs Billy Koumetio and Rhys Williams and forward Max Woltman – and regained their form in helping the U21s finish second in Premier League 2.
The most prominent example of that is Owen Beck, who had an initial loan spell in Portugal with Famalicao cut short after barely a month without a ball being kicked, and then made only four starts at Bolton Wanderers in League One but, after his January recall to Liverpool, was outstanding for the U21s.
On the flip side, Leighton Clarkson excelled at Aberdeen while Conor Bradley was more successful at Bolton and appeared at Wembley in their Papa John’s Trophy triumph over Plymouth Argyle. Luke Chambers impressed in helping Kilmarnock stay in the Scottish Premiership after moving there in the New Year. Tyler Morton, meanwhile, played over 40 games for Blackburn Rovers.
“You can see a loan move in different ways,” says U21s coach Barry Lewtas. “I suppose some people would regard Leighton Clarkson’s loan at Blackburn last season as a failure, but he learned a lot there. Would he have been successful as he has been at Aberdeen without that experience?
“How you learn and adapt to what you have is key. There are players here who have been out on their first loan and it hasn’t been a huge success, but they have gone on to either the next loan or developed back here. Yes, you want a loan like Conor Bradley who won a trophy at Wembley and won lots of player awards. But it’s not to say the boy who didn’t play as much didn’t learn as well. They would have learned a lot about themselves.”
Lewtas adds: “Dealing with setbacks is part of the journey and there are a few of the boys who have had bumps in the road but overcome them. Look at Owen Beck. He came back and in the second half of the season has been superb. They don’t become bad players, but sometimes it isn’t the right fit.
“The one we always point to is Harry Wilson. His first loan was at Crewe and not many remember the detail of that one, but he’s scoring goals in the Premier League now.”
Of the players who left on loan in January, an undoubted success was Jarell Quansah, who impressed during 16 outings with Bristol Rovers in League One. It earned the 20-year-old a place at the U20 World Cup with England, where he was harshly penalised for handball in conceding the spot kick that saw the Young Lions lose 2-1 to Italy in the last 16 last week.
“I’ve followed what Jarell was doing on loan,” says Lewtas. “He has made huge progress. His performances for us in the first half of the season were a big improvement on the season before, and that’s down to him.
“He’s conscientious on parts of the game he wants to improve and develop, and I knew if he could make those adjustments it would really improve his game. His ability to control the defensive line has been a real positive factor in his development and he’s shown that at Bristol Rovers.”
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