Rumour Mongering: Celtic and Rangers Battle to Sign Liverpool Striker

Taiwo Awoniyi joined Liverpool’s academy from Lagos’ Imperial Soccer Academy in the summer of 2015 for £400k, and hopes were high at the time that the young Nigerian striker might just have a long-term future at the club.

Now 23 years old and on loan at Union Berlin, it seems safe to say Awoniyi’s future lies away from Anfield, but if the latest rumours are true it might not be that far away from the club he’s been on the books of for nearly six years now.

At least that’s the story being sold as an exclusive by 90min this week, who say Rangers and Celtic stand joint leaders to bring the player in on a permanent deal—with Liverpool said to be seeking a fee of around £5M for Awoniyi.

Awoniyi has been solid this season for Berlin, with five goals and a pair of assists in 14 league appearances for a side on the fringes of the Bundesliga’s top four, and it’s not the first loan spell the striker has impressed while out on.

The biggest problem, when it comes to any potential Liverpool future for Awoniyi, has always been securing a work permit for the player in England, those work permit issues have meant seven loans in a row to seven different clubs.

Assuming a work permit is possible—currently, Scottish clubs can argue for the signing of players who wouldn’t meet the criteria for the Premier League—a move to Celtic or Rangers for £5M might be the best outcome for all parties.