Liverpool face FIVE-WAY transfer battle for attacking starlet

Tom Hancock

4 Aug 2023 15:29 BST
3 min read

Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool badge, in front of a panorama of Anfield in red — © ProShots

Liverpool are facing competition from England and Scotland as they pursue 17-year-old Hamilton Academical prodigy Ryan Oné.

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Oné has already made 32 first-team appearance for Hamilton, breaking through as they were relegated from the Scottish second tier last season.

And his performances have caught the eye of several clubs south of the border, with Liverpool, Newcastle and Burnley all credited with an interest.

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The Reds may have their work cut out to sign Oné, however: according to TEAMtalk, Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers are both keen on the Scotland U17 international.

Even with Premier League giants sniffing around, the appeal of the Old Firm to a young Scottish player cannot be understated.

Oné wouldn’t be the first Scottish starlet to head to Anfield in recent times, though: Liverpool signed right-back Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen just over 12 months ago – although the 20-year-old has featured only twice for the Reds and will spend the 2023/23 campaign on loan with Championship side Preston North End.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers | All the done deals

© ProShots - Calvin Ramsay was Liverpool's most recent signing from Scottish football

One eye on the future at all times

Liverpool, though, are a club constantly building for the future – and, while their two summer additions so far, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, are very much signings for ‘now’, they can’t afford to stop thinking about gaps which might need filling in the years ahead.

Oné, though, has the world at his feet and time very much on his side: the son of former Partick Thistle and Livingston striker Armand Oné only turned 17 in June.

Hamilton won’t let themselves be pressured into selling, either: the Accies are holding out for their valuation of Oné, who our in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model currently rates at €200,000 (£172.7m).