Liverpool target £7m rated starlet

Football FanCast

By Aidan McCartney

Published Aug 11, 2013

Here in the Football Transfer Tavern we love to see a highly talented youngster emerge from the Championship to become a mainstay in the top flight.

One player we our eye on is Derb County's talented 18-year-old midfielder Will Hughes.

Reports emerging in today's Mirror Football have understandably interested most punters in the tavern as they suggest that Liverpool have targeted the Rams starlet in an £7 million summer swoop.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reportedly wants to nurture the coveted England Under-21 international - who is also wanted by Chelsea and Manchester City - into becoming the replacement for Reds legend Steven Gerrard at Anfield.

Hughes has been an outstanding member of Nigel Clough's side since his breakthrough at Pride Park last season.

The Championship side would be reluctant to sell their prized asset but boss Clough is thought to be happy with a buy and loan back option like the one that saw Wilfried Zaha return to Crystal Palace for the remainder of last season after completing his move to Manchester United in January. The Reds would be willing to put a deal together that saw him joining in the future.

Liverpool face a busy remainder of the month trying to keep star striker Luis Suarez at the club while also trying to persuade defender Daniel Agger to turn down a move to La Liga champions Barcelona.

The Spanish side are reportedly preparing a new bid for the Danish defender who has been handed the vice captaincy by Rodgers as he tries to keep him at Anfield this summer.