Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of 17-year-old Abdul Fatawu Issakahu despite a late hijack attempt from arch-rivals Manchester United.
According to an exclusive report from Anfield Central, Liverpool are poised to beat bitter rivals Manchester United in the race to sign 17-year-old Ghanaian whizkid Abdul Fatawu Issahaku from Steadfast FC.
Despite being only 17, Issahaku is already making quite the waves and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in African football currently. The versatile attacker, who can play out on the flanks or as a No. 10 was named Player of the Tournament at the 2021 U20 Africa Cup of Nations where he represented the Ghanaian national team and has even been called up to the senior side as well.
Issahaku’s rapid rise and development at club level with Steadfast FC and on the international scenes have caught the eye of several bigwigs across Europe including the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.
In fact, it had been even claimed that the Merseyside giants were on the verge of completing the signing of the teenage forward only to see arch-rivals Manchester United make a late attempt to hijack the deal. The Red Devils, much like Liverpool, have been recruiting heavily on the youth front in recent transfer windows and saw the opportunity to move for Issahaku, despite a deal to Anfield being in advanced stages.
However, the report adds that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side has failed to swoop him away from under Liverpool’s nose as the 17-year-old is drawn to the Reds and is now set to complete a move which is likely to set them back by a sum of just £1.5 million. A deal is all but done, with only a few minor details left to be worked out.
Issahaku, though, will not be linking with Liverpool immediately as he is not yet eligible to get a UK work permit. Instead, the Reds will be sending him out on loan to Portuguese champions Sporting CP for an unspecified duration, until the teenager can get his work permit sorted. The report further adds that the deal will not be made public by the club either until he is eligible to represent the club.
