Liverpool confirm signing of versatile defensive starlet
Liverpool have completed the signing of Calum Scanlon from Birmingham City.
Reports emerged earlier this week that Liverpool were looking to sign the Birmingham academy player. The deal has now gone through.
Scanlon is 15 years old and can play as a defender or midfielder. He will initially join the academy setup at Liverpool.
The Premier League champions are unlikely to make many major moves in January, despite a number of injury issues among their first team squad.
However, they are always looking to the future as well, so have drafted in Scanlon to bolster their youth ranks.
Jurgen Klopp has handed debuts to a number of academy graduates at Liverpool in recent years. It will likely be a few years until Scanlon is seen playing professional football, but for now he will build up his experience with the academy setup.
The teenager is eager to get going after sealing his transfer, reportedly worth £500,000.
“Happy to sign with Liverpool FC,” he wrote on Instagram.
“A big thank you to BCFC and everyone who has helped me progress to this point, but as of today I start a new chapter. The hard work continues, let’s go!”
Scanlon has played for England at under-15 level.
Another academy star ready to step up
Recently, one Liverpool youth coach told fans who the next one to watch could be.
Several academy graduates have been drafted into the first team squad at Anfield this season, particularly in defence – and one left-back is being viewed as someone who could also make an impression.
Owen Beck has been training with the first team squad recently. Liverpool Under-23s assistant manager Gary O’Neil believes he is destined for big things.
“Owen Beck is an amazing one. He’s a young boy, he’s very small,” he told Talksport (via This Is Anfield).
“He’s been underdeveloped the whole way through. So he’s always been the smallest in his age group, one of the youngest.
“He’s played every game for us at under-23 level this season and has done some training sessions with the first team.”