Liverpool close to signing United States U18 international Brooks Lennon

Liverpool are reportedly expected to complete the signing of United States U18 striker Brooks Lennon, who is currently on the books of MLS side Real Salt Lake.

According to Goal, the Reds will complete the signing of the attacker this week, after being linked to the young forward for a number of months.

The 17-year-old forward, who is a regular in the United States U18 team, spent time at Liverpool's academy in January 2014, where he impressed coaches with his performances. This has earned Lennon a permanent deal with the club.

The Real Salt Lake academy product would have struggled to get a work permit owing to his lack of senior national team appearances, but the report claims that the forward is set to be awarded his Irish passport, thus making him eligible to play in England and the Premier League.

Liverpool have had American prospects before in Villyan Bijev and Marc Pelosi, but both of them failed to make the grade at Anfield and left the club without making a single first-team appearance.

Lennon is expected to join the Merseyside club's youth set up with the report suggesting that he will either play with the Liverpool U18's or U21's following his imminent move to England.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio believes that midfielder Philippe Coutinho will start the upcoming season more confidently following a stellar individual campaign during the 2014/15 season.

"I have followed Coutinho since he first joined Inter Milan," Aurelio told Liverpool's official site.

"Obviously he didn't have a great time there, but he was always a quality player, a quick player that could play very well between the lines. Quick-thinking as well."

"At Liverpool, he had the chance he needed to step up and improve his game; he had the opportunity to show his true qualities. I enjoyed watching him a lot last season and now he will have even more confidence to keep doing the great job he is doing at the moment. I wish him the very best," the former Reds full-back added.