Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers ready to give Andre Wisdom right-back role next season

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly ready to give young defender Andre Wisdom a chance to stake claim for the right-back spot in the Reds' first team next season.

According to the Daily Mail, the Northern Irishman is ready to put his trust in the defender to replace the departing Glen Johnson in the first team next season, before dipping into the transfer market for a replacement.

Wisdom has been on loan since the 2013/14 season, first spending time in the Championship with Derby County and this season, the English defender is on loan at West Bromwich Albion.

The 22-year-old is highly regarded at Anfield and despite the defender falling out of favour under Tony Pulis at the Hawthorns, the former Swansea City boss is ready to give him a chance to play for Liverpool on a regular basis.

Wisdom will have a clear path into the first team next season, as Johnson will leave the club at the end of the season. His backup Jon Flanagan has suffered yet another knee injury, which has ruled him out for at least six months.

Loan signing Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid has failed to live up to expectations and will most likely be allowed to return to the Spanish capital after just one season into his two-season loan deal.

It is believed that Rodgers is keen to move makeshift right-sided defender Emre Can back into midfield to replace the departing Steven Gerrard, and play Wisdom at right-back instead.

Another reason for the manager to look at an internal solution is the requirement of transfer funds to strengthen other areas such as the forward line and central defence.