Report: Liverpool open talks to sign West Ham United defender

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Read Liverpool have claimed that Jurgen Klopp’s side have opened talks to sign West Ham United teenager Jeremy Ngakia on a free transfer this summer – after the defender refused to finish the season with the Hammers.

West Ham are running out of time to keep 19-year-old Ngakia with the right-back’s contract set to expire at the end of the month. Clubs have until June 23 to confirm whether players in Ngakia will remain until the end of the season.

But it appears that Ngakia is set to leave West Ham in the coming months after rejecting West Ham’s latest effort to keep him at the London Stadium. He has managed four Premier League appearances this season.

The report claims Liverpool have opened talks to sign the young defender, with the Reds perhaps keen on adding another right-sided defender to their ranks as cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Nathaniel Clyne is set to leave.

TBR’s view – Ngakia a solid signing, but harsh on Neco Williams?

Ngakia is showing enormous potential, enough so to convince David Moyes that he deserved to make his Premier League debut and then some, for the Hammers. But is a move to Liverpool going to hinder Neco Williams?

Williams has impressed this season when given the chance, clocking up five senior appearances – and even laying on three assists in those matches. Would it harm Williams’ development if Ngakia was signed?

Perhaps. Though there is also an argument to suggest that Williams would remain ahead of Ngakia in the pecking order.