Liverpool’s commitment to recruiting the best young talent has been underlined further by the signing of Irish starlet Alex O’Hanlon.
Schoolboy O’Hanlon, 15, plays for Dublin’s fabled St Kevin’s Boys’ Club which launched the career of Liam Brady as well as Damien Duff, Stephen Carr and Ian Harte.
The left-back is rated as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Ireland in years and has caused a stampede of interest among England’s elite, having spent time at Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton.
Manchester United hoped to sign him, having previously lured teenager Robert Brady from St Kevin’s. Brady, 19, no relation to Liam, was an unused substitute for United’s 3-2 Carling Cup win over Wolves in October but Liverpool have stolen a march on their rivals for a player who has been likened to Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.
O’Hanlon has visited Liverpool’s training ground Melwood and St Kevin’s will receive compensation in accordance with UEFA’s guidelines, which will rise depending on progress.
Suggestions they could net as much as £2million have been dismissed, but Brendan Bermingham, secretary of St Kevin’s Boys’ Club, said: “He is very highly thought of. He’s an excellent full-back and hopefully he might turn out like Gareth Bale.
“He’s got a really good attitude, quiet and unassuming. He’s just football, football, football.”
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner stressed on Sunday’s flying visit to Merseyside for the game with Tottenham the importance of a strong academy set-up.
The emergence of Jonathan Flanagan, Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing and Jack Robinson has been a major plus point and Raheem Sterling, 16, and Connor Coady, 18, are set for first-team squad places next season.
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