Liverpool monitoring Sheffield United starlet Oliver Arblaster

Exclusive — Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Sheffield United youngster Oliver Arblaster.

Anfield Watch understands that the Reds have been monitoring the 19-year-old midfield talent who spent the first half of 2023/24 on loan at League One side Port Vale.

Arblaster made his first-team debut for Sheffield United last season, appearing in four Championship games. However, the teenager is yet to make an appearance in the top flight.

He secured a season-long move to Port Vale last summer and was a regular for the Valiants until the end of December, making 26 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice.

Arblaster, a boyhood Sheffield United fan, was then recalled by the Blades for the second half of 2023/24 and has been tipped to make his Premier League bow in the coming months.

He is known as a technically gifted midfielder and has represented England and both Under-18 and Under-20 level.

Alongside developing local talent, youth recruitment from around the United Kingdom has been a key pillar of Liverpool's strategy in recent years, with a number of young stars graduating from the academy to make their first-team breakthroughs this season.

Conor Bradley, who joined the Reds' academy in 2019 after moving over from Northern Ireland, was named Liverpool's Player of the Month for January after eye-catching performances against the likes of Chelsea and Norwich.

Meanwhile, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Ben Doak are among the other rising stars recruited from around the UK to get first-team minutes this season.

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool's wealth of emerging talent on a number of occasions this season, recently hailing the academy after last month's 4-1 win over Chelsea.

He said: “We had seven games in January with 11 days off in between. We couldn’t have put the string of results together without the kids, (Jarell) Quansah, Conor and we had midfielders out so we played with James McConnell at six.

“These boys used this situation. I am happy they all could perform the way they did. The academy is doing an incredible job.”