At only 18 years old, 20-year-old defender Conor Bradley was selected for the Northern Ireland national team and is highly regarded for his talent. Last season, he was loaned out to Bolton, where he scored 7 goals and provided 6 assists in 53 games. He was expected to make his mark in the first team this season.
However, he has been injured since preseason, and although he has recently returned, he must produce results to be called a reserve for Trent Alexander-Arnold. At the moment, Joe Gomez is the first reserve, and it is hard to say that he is high in the pecking order.
Some clubs are looking to acquire the player on loan, who is only 20 years old and must secure playing time. Burnley, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, and West Bromwich Albion are all interested, according to TEAMtalk.
He has been on the pitch in two Europa League games so far this season, but needs regular game time to seek further rapid development. Burnley has been challenging for the Premier League under Vincent Kompany, but has not been able to achieve favorable results.
Leeds, Middlesbrough, and West Bromwich Albion are competing in the Championship. To stay in the top league, Burnley would be ideal, but only being able to guarantee a starting place is the top priority.
However, it is also true that Liverpool is unlikely to let the player go. Gomez is a utility defender who can also play at center back or left back, and with Alexander-Arnold increasingly being used in midfield, it would be a bad move to cut down the number of right backs.
The overcrowded schedule of the year-end and New Year holidays, the League Cup, and the FA Cup will surely provide opportunities to show their abilities.
Will he be able to make the most of these opportunities and take a regular spot away from the senior members of the academy, rather than being an official reserve sideback for the English national team defenders…?