Reds Bolster Youth Ranks

Liverpool has bolstered their youth ranks by signing 14-year-old Bradford City defender Nial Heaton.

A deal was agreed with the League Two outfit on Tuesday. The Bantams will receive payments based on the teenager's progress.

Youth team coach David Wetherall admitted disappointment at losing such a fine prospect but sees the move as evidence of Bradford's success.

"We have to be realistic about the situation. Part of the success for us is producing players of this quality that benefit the football club financially," he said.

"We are trying to get ourselves in a situation where we no longer have a real need to sell but it’s difficult to stand in players’ way when clubs such as Liverpool come knocking.

"Although myself and Pete [Horne, manager of Bradford's Centre of Excellence] are obviously disappointed that these players won’t be wearing the claret and amber, we’ve a sense of pride that clubs with the quality of Liverpool are interested in them. We’ve got clubs who are interested in other players as well."

Heaton is the third Bantam's youngster to join Liverpool in recent years following Calum Pilkington and Andre Wisdom.