Liverpool midfielder now in advanced talks about moving away

It promises to be a summer of big change around Liverpool’s midfield.

The likes of Adam Wharton and Khephren Thuram have been linked with inbound deals. And the middle third could also lose some faces under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

Curtis Jones will be off to Inter Milan as soon as a deal is struck - while Alexis Mac Allister is another player whose immediate future is in doubt. New players arriving will have a knock-on effect for aspiring midfielders also on the books.

And it would appear that one promising academy graduate is now destined for a move away.

Luca Stephenson in talks with Bolton

Despite impressing under Arne Slot in preseason 22-year-old Luca Stephenson won’t be given a chance under Iraola.

That’s according to a report in Football Insider which claims the versatile midfielder is in the final stages of completing a move to Bolton Wanderers.

“Bolton Wanderers are in advanced talks to sign Liverpool youngster Luca Stephenson this summer,” the report reads.

“Liverpool have informed Stephenson that he is free to find a new club ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with Bolton expected to agree a permanent deal.”

Luca Stephenson won't get a chance

Stephenson joined the Liverpool academy as a teenager and has really impressed across the last two seasons out on loan. The midfielder-cum-right-back spent two campaigns north of the border with Dundee United.

His form was so good that it was reported that Liverpool were interested in cutting his loan deal short in January of this year and integrating him into the first-team set-up.

Stephenson signed a new deal before embarking on his second spell with the Tangerines - which means Liverpool now stand to gain a fee for him this summer.

Stephenson very impressive in Dundee United loan spells

Championship newboys Bolton will pay less than £1m for Stephenson according to various reports - and he will no doubt pay that relatively small fee back many times over for his new employers.

Stephenson’s 2025/26 season was cut short owing to a hamstring injury - and he returned to the AXA Training Centre for treatment. He is expected to be fit in time for preseason but he will not get the opportunity to impress the new gaffer.

Instead it looks like he will heading to the second tier - not on loan either with a permanent deal to the Trotters now growing ever more likely.

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