Liverpool are ready to attempt to sign Derby County’s Will Hughes should the Rams fail to secure promotion to the Premier League, reports the Daily Star.
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Steve McClaren has overseen a push for the top flight at Derby, but recent weeks have seen the side drop down the table in to fifth. They are only a point off seventh placed Brentford and dropping out of the play off places. Should they once again disappoint in their promotion attempts, Reds manager Brendan Rodgers could sense an opportunity to strike according to the Star.
19-year-old Hughes has scored twice and created five other goals in 37 league appearances this season. He is also very experienced for his age, having played in all but one of the Championship fixtures last time around, scoring four times and assisting six others. He’s also a mainstay in the England Under-21 setup, and his dynamism in the middle of the park helps win possession back and kick start attacks. Hughes averages 2.5 tackles per game for Derby County in the Championship this season, which is more than any Liverpool midfielder’s Premier League challenge rate bar the more defensively minded Lucas Leiva.
The Star go on to claim that the Anfield outfit have tried to sign the youngster before this campaign, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. Hughes has a bright future, and will no doubt be keen to play at the highest level before too long. If Derby fall short in their efforts to reach the top flight, the Star suggest the prospect of another season in the second tier may lure Hughes away from Pride Park – with a £15 million fee mooted.