Liverpool talking to Premier League rivals about taking 20-year-old on loan

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Liverpool are looking at options for Conor Bradley to get more game time for the rest of the season.

Bradley had been tipped to play a big role in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad this season. However, after a promising pre-season, injury has ruined the 20-year-old’s campaign so far.

Things have fortunately started to turn for Bradley recently. He made his first start of the year for Liverpool on Thursday, with Klopp hailing the Northern Irishman’s ‘outstanding’ display against Union Saint-Gilloise.

According to TeamTALK though, these sporadic appearances may not be enough for the Reds. Keen to ensure that Bradley is getting the minutes he needs to develop, they claim that Liverpool are ‘fielding enquiries’ about the right-back.

Having reportedly been contacted by around a dozen interested parties, the Reds are said to now be ‘ready’ to let Bradley leave.

Of the more than 12 clubs to have been in touch about the Northern Ireland international, TeamTALK name four of them. From the Championship, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Leeds United are said to be interested. Meanwhile Burnley have reportedly reached out to Liverpool in an attempt to keep Bradley in the Premier League.

Bradley ready for loan

Given how little Bradley has played this season, there may be some sense in loaning him out. The youngster was sensational whilst playing regularly for Bolton Wanderers last year and won’t want to stand still.

However, due to Liverpool’s lack of cover at right-back, Klopp should think long and hard before letting him leave.

Having got himself back fit, Bradley is perhaps still behind Joe Gomez in the queue to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s back-up.

But with Gomez also needed at centre-back, Liverpool don’t want to spread themselves too thinly.

With the Europa League group stages and the early rounds of the Carabao Cup out of the way though, there realistically won’t be loads of opportunity for Bradley.

As a result, if Liverpool are happy to make do without the academy graduate, then they should move him on.

Of course, there’s no chance of the Reds letting young Conor leave permanently. He’s got big potential and could well be a fixture in the first-team in the years to come.

This is an important juncture, though. Too little game time could lead to Bradley stalling in his progress. Any loan club must be chosen wisely, but if Liverpool are confident that they can manage without him, let the lad go and play.