Alex Inglethorpe is closing in on a new contract to extend his spell as Liverpool's Academy manager.
The ECHO understands that talks have been ongoing for some time before being significantly stepped up over the last few weeks. They are now believed to be at an advanced stage as Ingelthorpe closes in on fresh terms to continue on at the club's Kirkby base.
Inglethorpe joined the club from Tottenham 10 years ago and has helped oversee the development of a number of young talents on the books that include local talents Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones.
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The new contract is a reward for the thriving environment at the Kirkby hub and will come fresh off a season when a string of young hopefuls made their first-team debuts under Jurgen Klopp.
Max Woltman, Conor Bradley and Harvey Blair all made their senior debuts under Klopp last season while Kaide Gordon started the Carabao Cup semi-final at Arsenal just weeks after becoming the youngest player to score for Liverpool in an FA Cup tie when they beat Shrewsbury 4-1 at Anfield. Tyler Morton, who has since joined Blackburn Rovers on loan, made nine appearances in total that included starts in both the Champions League and Premier League.
Bobby Clark and Stefan Bajcetic are two Academy teens who were part of the Liverpool squad that drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Monday while Nat Phillips, who has worked his way into the first-team picture over the last few years, started at centre-back next to Virgil van Dijk.
A key element of Ingelthorpe's time as manager of the Academy has been the sums that the club have received for some of the youngsters whose talents have been honed and developed during their time on Liverpool's books.
While the overriding goal is always to bring through talent for the first team at Anfield, there's an acceptance that the current level of Klopp's senior side means that is not always possible, but success is also viewed by the fees brought in for players who have been with the club since their junior days.
Neco Williams was sold to Nottingham Forest for £17m earlier this summer, while the Reds were given £12m by Fulham for Harry Wilson after he completed a switch to the Londoners in 2021. Rhian Brewster was another who worked his way up the ranks before moving to Sheffield United for close to £25m, while Ryan Kent (£7m) and Rafa Camacho (£7m) have also brought in sizable figures in recent years.
The Academy ranks across Under-18 and U21 level have been bolstered significantly in recent years with the likes of Gordon, Bajcetic, Clark, Ben Doak and Calum Scanlon all joining since the start of last year, while Oludare Olufunwa signed from Southampton over the summer just after Trent Kone-Doherty's move from Derry City.
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