Liverpool are closing in on the signing of 17-year-old Salford City striker Will Wright in a six-figure deal.
The move would mark another instance of a top-flight giant prising away EFL talent before they break through at senior level.
Liverpool Poised to Land League Two Prospect Will Wright
Liverpool are reportedly in advanced talks to sign teenage forward Will Wright from Salford City, with a six-figure fee said to have been agreed between the clubs.
Wright, who turned 17 in May, made his senior debut for Salford in a 3-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s in last season’s EFL Trophy. He added two League Two appearances to his record, as well as a cameo in an FA Cup mauling at the hands of Manchester City. Despite limited opportunities, Wright’s promise has drawn attention from several Premier League clubs, with Liverpool now looking set to win the race.
The two clubs are deep into negotiations, and the teenager looks destined to become the latest youth recruit at Anfield. Jacobs noted that while other clubs had shown interest, the Reds were “closing in” on the deal.
If completed, Wright would follow in the footsteps of fellow prospects Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, and Amara Nallo, all of whom joined Liverpool’s academy in recent summers from other English sides.
Wright has made an impression during pre-season with Salford, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw with FC United of Manchester and notching another equaliser against Ashton United. Speaking after his first brace of the summer, he said:
The youngster is unlikely to feature for Jürgen Klopp’s successor Arne Slot in the immediate future but is expected to join the club’s academy ranks, potentially slotting straight into the U21s. With Jayden Danns currently training with the first team and Lewis Koumas likely heading out on loan, there may be a fast-tracked pathway for Wright at that level.
His departure would be a blow for Salford City, who are managed by Karl Robinson and begin their 2025–26 League Two campaign under pressure to improve on last season’s mid-table finish. For the Class of 92-owned outfit, the transfer fee will offer a financial boost but further highlights the challenge of retaining top youth talent in the EFL pyramid.
Writer’s View
This transfer underlines the growing challenge for EFL clubs to hold on to their brightest teenage stars. For Salford City, Will Wright’s departure is a mark of their academy’s growing reputation, even if it weakens their immediate options up front. Liverpool’s strategy of signing elite prospects before they hit the spotlight continues to bear fruit, and in Wright they see a player with the potential to rise quickly through their development ranks.
Given his early pre-season form and physical profile, it would not be a surprise to see him make U21 appearances within weeks of arrival. But the broader takeaway is clear: for ambitious EFL sides like Salford, safeguarding young talent from the top-flight vacuum remains a near-impossible task.
