Coming off an impressive season at the U23 level that saw him score 28 goals and receive his senior Liverpool debut against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, young Wales international Harry Wilson is reportedly drawing the interest of former Liverpool manage Brendan Rodgers and Celtic.
At least according to ESPN, who site sources close to the player to support the report. Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers are also mentioned as potential suitors, and the rumour appears to suggest it would be a permanent deal and not a loan that those sides would be seeking.
Such a move is unlikely to interest Liverpool, who signed Wilson to a new deal in 2016 after a difficult, injury-riddled 2015-16 campaign on loan at Crewe that hindered his progress. Until then, Wilson had been regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects and had been handed his Wales debut.
His exceptional return in 2016-17, though, suggests it was a setback more than derailment, and now the priority will be to find a home for him on loan again. A sale would only happen if the player pushed for it and if Liverpool were able to protect themselves with buyback and sell-on clauses.
If ESPN’s report is accurate, though, Wilson may be doing precisely that, and if so the youngster could be headed on a path similar to Sergi Canos when he was sold to Norwich last summer. If that happens, it would be a disappointing way to cap what had been a promising career at Liverpool.
It’s possible that, at 20 years of age and expecting to be sent out on loan for the second time in three years, Wilson would rather spend the coming season establishing himself at a new permanent home rather than targeting a role at Anfield in the more distant future.