Liverpool youngster branded 'fantastic' by Wayne Rooney agrees new long-term contract

The end of the Jürgen Klopp era is fast approaching but Liverpool's future is looking very bright. The departing German boss has put his trust in youth this season, albeit often out of necessity, but he has not once been let down.

Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah can expect even more important roles next term, while the likes of Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell have all stepped up to the plate this campaign. And teenage forward Kaide Gordon is another to make a big impression.

Gordon has made three first-team appearances in 2023/24 after bouncing back from a lengthy injury lay-off. He had made his first-team debut and become Liverpool's second-youngest ever goalscorer, before missing a staggering 17 months of action.

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His injury issues did stall his progress somewhat but Gordon is now showing his true potential. The 19-year-old scored twice in the Under-23s' victory over Crystal Palace last week and will now hope for a similar impact in the Premier League 2 play-off quarter-finals against Tottenham on Sunday.

Despite having not featured for the first team since the FA Cup win over Southampton in February, he has been rewarded with a long-term contract at Anfield. The terms of the deal are undisclosed but it is a reward for Gordon's hard work and resilience after his injury nightmare.

The England youth international joined the Reds from Derby in 2021, having made his professional debut just weeks after turning 16. Ex-Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney was his coach a the time and tipped him for a bright future.

"Kaide is a fantastic player and he has got a lot of potential. We expect there to be a lot of interest in him," Rooney said back in 2020. That interest soon came from Liverpool and Klopp wasted no time in giving him first-team exposure.

Like a host of other Liverpool youngsters, he will be eager to catch the eye of Klopp's successor in pre-season, with a deal for Arne Slot close to being finalized. The Dutchman has not been afraid to turn to youth in the past and is known for wanting multiple attacking players in his squad.

There will undoubtedly be calls for high-profile additions but Profit and Sustainability Rules will ultimately dictate how much can be spent. Slot will probably have other positions to prioritize too, and that may just give Gordon the chance to push himself into first-team contention.