Liverpool have golden chance to re-sign former player from Man City | OneFootball

Re-signing a player from Man City is never easy but Liverpool have a golden chance before it's too late.

In recent years there has been a lot of migration and back and forth between the two rivals at academy level.

City and Liverpool have always had a lot of crossover but over the last year or so there have been a lot of movement in terms of players coming to the Reds' academy from their rivals.

Earlier this season, Lucas Alford and Alfied Dooley joined from City to link-up with the club's U15 side. Last season, Lucas Clarke was also snatched from City's academy and he now plays for the U18s.

Some players are clearly recognising that there is a better pathway for them at Anfield and this could see another former academy graduate who joined City from Liverpool, return to the club.

The pathway at Manchester City is very difficult right now. City love to buy high profile players and they have assembled a particularly strong defensive unit.

With Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol, Abdulkadir Khusanov and Juma Bah, it seems like their centre-backs are set for the next decade.

This is where a generational talent like Stephen Mfuni could get lost if here were to stay.

© IMAGO - Stephen Mfuni Liverpool

Mfuni is currently excelling on loan at Watford despite only turning 18-years-old last month. He is a left-sided centre-back who reads the game superbly and can also cover at left-back, which is where he has played for Watford so far.

It's also where Liverpool need reinforcements this summer. The future of Andy Robertson is up in the air, they will need someone to replace him and cover for Milos Kerkez.

Long-term the Reds will also need a replacement for Virgil van Dijk, he won't be around forever.

Mfuni is an ideal choice for both roles. He's a generational talent and annoyingly he was at Liverpool before he joined Man City.

"From under sevens to under nines I was at City and Liverpool at the same time and then chose Man City because I liked it more there," he told the BBC.

With all the depth ahead of him at City, Mfuni will undoubtedly be looking at the best possible next step for him after the season ends and this is Liverpool's golden chance to convince him to return to the club where it all started for him.

It's a prospect that should entice Mfuni, too.

© IMAGO - Josh Mfuni Liverpool

Liverpool will offer him a better pathway, more first-team opportunities and also the prospect of linking up with his brother.

His younger brother, Josh Mfuni, plays for Liverpool's U15 side as a defender, and captained the U13 side to victory at the inaugural Virgil's Legacy Trophy last year, winning the Defensive Player of the Tournament award.

Clearly, the Mfuni family still have close ties to Liverpool because of Josh, and that gives the Reds the upper hand in trying to get Stephen.

Obviously, City will be reluctant to sell. They will want a big fee for Mfuni but every penny will be well worth it for a player of his talent. Mfuni could become one of the best centre-backs in England.

And we'd much rather see that happen at Liverpool rather than at Man City.