What next for Liverpool’s new signee Fatawu Issahaku
Liverpool new boy Fatawu Issahaku is set to be loaned out to develop his talent before he can feature for the Anfield side.
Issahaku, 17, joined The Reds on a 5-year-deal on Saturday for an undisclosed fee but didn’t meet the requirement for a work permit in English football.
The former Steadfast FC youngster begins his foreign career with a loan spell at a club either in Germany, Portugal or Austria.
Liverpool will subsequently apply for the work permit through the ‘special talent’ channel as he enjoys loan football for a while.
He has already been linked to a move to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
Liverpool snatched the player directly from Leverkusen just three days ago when the midfielder arrived in Germany with his advisors and agent to complete the deal to the Bundesliga side.
But a last-minute approach from Jurgen Klopp’s side with a significant offer to the player’s Ghanaian team and highly-improved personal terms forced the agent to start playing tricks with Leverkusen.
This angered the German side, who pulled out of the deal and complained about the bad faith demonstrated by the Nigerian agent of the Ghanaian youngster.
The former Steadfast FC star has enjoyed an incredible year, scoring 8 goals in the ongoing Ghana Division One League to become the top scorer of his side.
He played an instrumental role in Ghana’s U-20 Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Mauritania this year and was also adjudged the tournament’s best player.
His wonderful strikes at the tournament placed him under the international spotlight, with several clubs believed to have approached his handlers for his signature.
He earned his first senior team call-up for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March.
The promising teen has also been named in a 30-man squad for Ghana’s upcoming friendly fixtures against Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire next month.
Last week, he was in the news when he announced signing a deal with sports kit manufacturing giants Nike.