Liverpool quickly say no to a big offer from another Premier League team for one of their top young stars.
Liverpool have turned down a £30 million offer from another Premier League club for their midfielder Trey Nyoni, according to reports.
Despite signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a huge £123 million, Liverpool are still short in some important positions as the transfer deadline approaches.
They also said no to a bid from Manchester City for forward Cody Gakpo. Letting him go would have freed up a non-homegrown player spot, allowing Liverpool to bring in someone new. Premier League rules say clubs can only have 17 non-homegrown players in their squad, and Liverpool are already at that limit.
Some of these problems started during last season’s transfer window, which Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher called the worst in Premier League history. They signed goalkeeper Freddie Woodman for free but lost homegrown players Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton, while Trent Alexander-Arnold moved to Real Madrid.
This summer hasn’t helped much, with Liverpool selling three non-homegrown players and signing four. Young defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who can’t get a work permit yet, has been affected because Liverpool didn’t give enough playing time to homegrown players last season, losing one of their special Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) permits.
To get that ESC slot back next season, new head coach Andoni Iraola needs to give more minutes to homegrown players. Nyoni, 19, might be key to that plan. He played 13 minutes as a substitute in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest and is expected to have a big season after Curtis Jones left. It seems Oliver Glasner’s team noticed his potential during that cameo at Anfield.
The Times reporter Paul Joyce shared that Forest offered £25 million plus £5 million in add-ons for Nyoni, but Liverpool quickly rejected it, seeing him as an important part of their squad.
Forest recently tried to sign another young midfielder from Merseyside, Everton’s Harrison Armstrong. Although they reportedly agreed a £35 million deal, Everton decided to pull out after upset fans spoke out.
Both Armstrong and Nyoni look set to stay with their clubs for now. But Forest might not be finished with Liverpool yet. They’ve also asked about Reds goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has struggled to take the number one spot from Alisson since joining last summer.
Mamardashvili made 20 appearances last season, mostly because Alisson was unavailable, but has only been on the bench for Liverpool’s first two Premier League games this season.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Liverpool have a verbal agreement to sign 18-year-old Genk goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, with plans for him to join next summer. It’s possible that Liverpool might bring this move forward if Mamardashvili leaves.