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Liverpool are weighing up whether to report Borussia Monchengladbach for an illegal approach to their 18-year-old striker Rhian Brewster, who now looks certain to join the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.
Brewster, an England Under-17 World Cup winner, has never signed a professional deal at Liverpool but the club have triggered the third year of his scholarship deal which means that he is not currently allowed to speak to other clubs even outside the Premier League. There has also been great interest from Red Bull Leipzig and Liverpool are closely monitoring that situation.
Brewster is held in great regard at Liverpool and is a well-liked member of the first team and Under-23s squad, currently recovering from injury.
He was praised extensively by Jurgen Klopp in his Football Writers’ Association speech in honour of footballer of the year Mohamed Salah, at the ceremony on Thursday night, for the teenager’s stance against the racist abuse he received playing for club and country.
There is also sympathy for those Liverpool youngsters who find themselves up against such formidable competition to break into the first team and acknowledgment that playing in Germany is a much more navigable path to first team action. However, Liverpool will act to protect their own interests this summer when he leaves the club with a clear idea that Brewster has been approached.
Rhian Brewster alongside Mo Salah
Rhian Brewster alongside Mo Salah at the FWA Footballer of the Year Dinner CREDIT: PA
Liverpool have been accused of the same in the past over Virgil Van Dijk, whom they signed form Southampton in January. With Jadon Sancho getting first team games at Borussia Dortmund and Ademola Lookman, on loan from Everton at Leipzig doing the same, there is a realisation for young English talent that they have a new route to becoming established stars.
European clubs are also recognising the high level of the current English youth generations and have spotted an advantage. Their aim is to sign players relatively cheaply for training compensation, ideally before they agree professional terms, develop them in their own first teams and then sell them back to the Premier League.
Manchester City went through a similar process with Dortmund over Sancho and the German club settled on £8 million with the suggestion being that the price was high because English club had complained about their conduct.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho celebrates his goal against Bayer Leverkusen last month CREDIT: AFP
Brewster could have signed a professional deal when he turned 17 but elected to keep his options open. Originally from Chadwell Heath in Essex, near to West Ham’s training ground, he has consistently taken the best option for his playing career rather than follow the money, leaving Chelsea for Liverpool in 2015. He still lives in academy player accommodation in Liverpool rather than his own house.
He was the top scorer at the Under-17 World Cup finals, won by England last summer and has caught the attention of many clubs across Europe, especially given he is yet to turn professional.
Liverpool have done their best to convince him to sign a deal at the club but are now resigned to losing the player barring a major change of heart. Monchengladbach have had the West Ham teenager Reece Oxford on loan this season.
