Liverpool news: Reds midfield transfer nears completion as announcement issued

Liverpool midfielder Luca Stephenson is on the brink of leaving the club with a switch to Bolton Wanderers nearly finalised. The 22-year-old is in the final year of his Anfield contract and has spent the past two seasons on loan at Dundee United.

Stephenson arrived at Liverpool's academy in 2018 from Sunderland but has yet to make a senior appearance for the Reds despite being part of the first-team squad for their last two pre-seasons. The proposed move to Bolton will cost the Championship club £700,000.

Despite his second season in Scotland being curtailed by injury, the midfielder scooped both the fans and club's Young Player of the Season awards at Dundee United, highlighting his potential despite limited opportunities at his parent club.

The transfer represents part of the reshaping activity under newly appointed manager Andoni Iraola, who took over from Arne Slot last month. The Spaniard has already secured the club's first summer signing in Victor Munoz while overseeing departures including Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate, although all three exits were agreed before Iraola took over.

Iraola has expressed his commitment to evaluating the current squad carefully. "For me and I will tell them they are all new signings," the manager said. "I think we have a very good squad. I think there is still work to do like normally in every club in this moment of the season. But right now for me the thing is to value especially the players that we have right now in the squad."

Stephenson's departure would free up space in Liverpool's midfield ranks as the transfer window remains active. Liverpool have less than two weeks before regrouping for pre-season, with Iraola likely to continue assessing his options during the remainder of the summer transfer period.