Rafa has another youngster to add to his budding crop of talent.

Sports - September 25, 2007

Liverpool, meanwhile, have sealed a £250,000 deal with Southend United for the transfer of Michael Ngoo, a 16-year-old centre forward who was also being watched by Manchester United. Ngoo, who is 6ft 4in and has been likened in style to Peter Crouch, impressed during a recent trial with United but Liverpool have beaten their North West rivals to his signature after meeting Southend’s asking price.

In a departure from the recent furore surrounding the transfers of a number of teenagers, the deal for Ngoo has not resulted in acrimony between Liverpool and Southend, with the Coca-Cola League One club praising their Barclays Premier League counterparts for the way negotiations were conducted. (Times Online)

Rafa has been very committed to pushing as much emphasis on the club’s youth development as possible and whether that’s because he understands the value of gathering a good collection of young talent to build a future team around or because he realises that the American owners have put a financial squeeze on the club, matters not. Either way it is far wiser to build up a teams depth in an organic manner such as this rather than simply forking out millions year on year, this is something Arsenal have been developing ever since Arsene Wenger stepped at the club.

By all accounts Michael Ngoo is a very hot prospect and It’s good to see that we beat Man United to the punch on this one and perhaps seeing the youngsters coming through the clubs academy into the first team squad this season and last were helpful pointers for the youngster to consider before he made up his mind.

I think the recent FIFA investigations into the pillaging of talents from abroad, specifically from countries who by law can’t put under 18’s on contracts, may breath some more life into the English youth system as teams may not want to risk possible sanctions even if they do appear to follow the letter of the law. Anyway, welcome Michael and hopefully we will see you in the first team in two or three years.

YNWA


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