Which Liverpool youngsters could leave before the Football League loan window closes?
The emergency loan window for clubs in the Football League closes on 26 March and there is no shortage of managers on the lookout for late additions. In the past two months, Liverpool have allowed three of their prized youngster to leave the club for fresh opportunities and what could also be auditions for a greater role in manager Brendan Rodgers's side next season.
There is still time for a few more. IBTimes UK considers the young hopefuls left at Anfield who could still benefit more from a temporary move away, rather than another stint in the club's Under-21 ranks.
Jack Dunn
Talks between Rodgers and academy director Alex Inglethorpe since the closure of the January transfer window have resulted in both Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair leaving the club after excellent campaigns for the Under-21s to help Wigan Athletic in their fight for Championship survival.
Another name to crop up in those conversations was Jack Dunn. Having seen Jordon Ibe thrive during his spells away, why wouldn't they encourage more to do the same? Dunn, a 20-year-old forward, enjoyed a spell at Cheltenham Town earlier in the season, scoring three goals before an injury curtailed his progress but according to Under-21 boss Michael Beale, the logical next step is for him to return to the Football League.
Harry Wilson
Wilson is Liverpool's Under-21 top scorer this season and having seen both Ojo and Sinclair leave, he remains integral. But with league success at youth level secondary to player development, he could also depart in the coming weeks.
The Under-21 edition of the Merseyside derby on 8 March attracted its share of scouts from across the country looking to bolster their squads for the remaining months of the season. You would be hard pushed finding one not impressed by the 18-year-old Wales international, who conjured a moment of magic to score a sensational last-minute winner.
Rafael Paez
The Reds defender finds himself in limbo due to an apparent administration error. The 20-year-old joined Bologna on loan in summer 2014 but struggled in Italy, returning to Merseyside in the winter. The Spaniard then agreed terms to join La Liga side Eibar on loan for the rest of the season in January, only for Fifa to block the deal due to a problem with paperwork. Eibar lodged an appeal in February, insisting no mistake was made on their part, but world football's governing body has stood firm.
Paez has opted to remain with Eibar to train with the club but his agent recently said to IBTimes UK: "Let's see what Liverpool say because they are the owners of their rights. In Spain he cannot play this season either at Eibar or in another club because it is impossible to register him out of the two transfer windows – summer and January – but maybe the FA regulation allow to do something. Let's see."
Paez's immediate future remains unresolved for the time being but with Football League clubs still able to register players until the deadline on 24 March, could a return to those shores beckon?
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