In-form Liverpool midfielder told to find a new club

This could well prove to be a make-or-break summer for several of Liverpool’s highly regarded fringe and academy talents.

Exciting forward Kieran Morrison is among those linked with a potential move away while Isaac Mabaya and Harvey Davies could also be moved on.

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Plenty of Liverpool prospects are out on loan this season and if no place can be found for them in Arne Slot’s first team squad then offers could well be heard for the likes of Lewis Koumas, Kaide Gordon, Luca Stephenson and Owen Beck.

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Another Liverpool under-21 star who has spent time in and around the first team is James Balagizi, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who caught Jurgen Klopp’s eye while in the academy.

Balagizi, an England U20 international, has endured a horror season on the injury front but has stepped up to train with Arne Slot’s first-team group when fit.

Balagizi's injury-hit season

He has been restricted to only three Premier League 2 outings - although those three appearances have yielded two goals and an assist.

Barry Lewtas’ side were in action on Sunday against Brighton, going down to a 2-1 defeat, but there were again encouraging signs for Balagizi.

The former Manchester City youth team player scored Liverpool’s only goal of the game, pulling one back after the Reds went 2-0 down.

He previously scored in a recent friendly match against Blackburn’s U21s, demonstrating that his comeback after a frustrating campaign is well and truly in swing.

But will it be enough to ensure an Anfield stay?

This Is Anfield is now reporting that Balagizi is set to LEAVE the club at the end of the season, despite playing himself back into form of late.

James Balagizi expected to leave this summer

“Liverpool youngster James Balagizi is expected to depart the club this summer after a campaign largely lost to injury, having returned with a goal on Sunday,” a report reads.

“Balagizi was among those considered for an exit in the last two transfer windows only for injury to block any move away from Merseyside.”

He has previously held loan spells at Crawley Town, which was curtailed due to injury, Wigan Athletic, from whom he was recalled midway through last season, and Kilmarnock in the Scottish top flight.

None of those loans turned out to be a success for Balagizi, whose exit now looks on the cards.

He has appeared on the first-team bench on a couple of occasions - in the EFL Cup against Norwich in 2021 and against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup in 2022.

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But this looks like a crucial summer for Balagizi’s development, and given his recent form and his pedigree, he won’t be short of offers this off-season.