Liverpool get involved in near 20-club scramble for FIFA World Cup breakout jewel | OneFootball

Liverpool have begun to dramatically overhaul their backline.

Last summer Giovanni Leoni was signed from Parma for £26m. More additions have been made since then with Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and above all Jeremy Jacquet arriving.

Jacquet, 20, will compete with Leoni for a starting spot alongside Virgil van Dijk for a new-look defence next season following his £60m signing from Rennes.

But Liverpool have lost Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer to Real Madrid and will expect both Van Dijk and Joe Gomez to exit the club once their contracts end next summer.

Liverpool involved in massive scramble for Lucas Herrington

It means the chase for top young talents is never-ending - with the outgoing Premier League champions now involved in a near 20-club scramble for one of the FIFA World Cup breakout stars.

Lucas Herrington, 18, has emerged as a top defensive prospect over the last 18 months - marshalling the Socceroos backline at the North American event.

He plays his club football in MLS with Colorado Rapids - who he joined in January on a bargain deal from Brisbane Roar.

The Rapids haven’t been able to keep Herrington under wraps for very long however with Barcelona, several top European clubs and plenty in England now competing for his signature.

That’s according to a report in TEAMtalk which claims Liverpool are among the teams tracking Herrington.

Barcelona and several other top sides want Herrington

“Barcelona have emerged as one of the clubs most impressed by the Colorado Rapids defender and have now entered the race for his signature,” the report reads.

“Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Monaco, Lille, Atalanta, Union Saint-Gilloise and Ajax are all tracking Herrington closely following his breakthrough on the international stage.

“Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United have all indicated their interest in the defender, with scouts from each club having followed his progress closely.

“Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo and Manchester City’s parent company City Football Group, have also held discussions over the teenager as they continue assessing some of the brightest young defensive talents in world football.

“Championship clubs Burnley and Watford having also been hugely impressed by Herrington’s performances and are monitoring developments closely.”

Sell and loan back?

Right now Herrington’s future is up for grabs with the report indicating that Colorado would welcome a deal this summer which would allow Herrington to remain on loan.

That would put Liverpool firmly in the mix - with Van Dijk and Gomez both expected to take their leave in 2027.

“They would also welcome a deal that allows Herrington to remain in Major League Soccer on loan for another 12 months before making the move to Europe,” the report reads.

“That option is believed to appeal to several interested clubs, allowing the teenager to continue his development with regular first-team football before taking the next step in his career.”

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Lucas Herrington: Situation summary

Lucas Herrington is a tall, front‑foot central defender who defends aggressively but with an unfussy, economical style, happy to step out and meet danger early before resetting the line.

At 193cm he’s dominant aerially, racks up clearances and blocks, and looks comfortable defending big spaces in a proactive Colorado Rapids system, with his calmness in possession more about clean first passes than expansive playmaking.

Born in Brisbane in September 2007, Herrington came through Toowong and the Brisbane Roar academy, making his A‑League debut at 17 before a rapid switch to MLS.

Within 18 months he’d gone from domestic prospect to Socceroos World Cup starter, becoming Australia’s youngest World Cup starter and drawing “best defender in Australian football” plaudits from former coaches along the way.

He signed with Colorado Rapids on a deal through 2029 plus an option year, and Brisbane Roar’s relatively modest sell‑on has already been framed as a missed financial opportunity given his trajectory.

With his stock rising via MLS metrics and World Cup exposure, that long contract turns him into a premium asset.

Herrington is already being linked with Barcelona and other European clubs that value athletic, high‑line centre‑backs, and the sense is less “if” than “when.”