Andre Wisdom Loan Move Boosts Liverpool's Reported Pursuit of Will Hughes

Liverpool have confirmed the loan switch of defender Andre Wisdom to Derby County, which could offer multiple long-term benefits to the Merseyside club.

Wisdom, who has represented the Reds’ first team on 22 occasions, will be allowed to develop his game at Derby alongside reported Liverpool target Will Hughes:

The Premier League club’s official website confirmed:

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Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom has today completed a youth loan switch to Championship side Derby County.

The 20-year-old joins the Rams, currently managed by former England boss Steve McClaren, on a temporary deal.

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First and foremost, Wisdom’s arrival at Derby will offer him regular first-team football that he just would not receive at Anfield this season.

Having broken into the team as a right-back, he currently lacks the necessary ball skills to make the position his own, while his defensive positioning dictates he is not ready to play centre-back.

Michu’s equaliser for Swansea and Notts County’s shock fightback in the Capital One Cup both highlighted weaknesses in Wisdom’s reading of the game, which can only improve with minutes on the pitch.

Brendan Rodgers has a host of superior options in his defence, with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly better right-back alternatives, while Mamadou Sakho, Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are all ahead of Wisdom in the central positions.

However, there is a further benefit to the move for Liverpool, who have enhanced relations with Derby ahead of an expected fight for the services of young talent Hughes.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all credited with an interest in the teenage midfielder by David Wright of the Daily Star, but Liverpool’s lending of Wisdom will likely aid their chances of securing the player.

Wright predicts Derby will struggle to keep Hughes beyond the January transfer window, particularly after the midfielder recently impressed for England’s under-21 side.

Wisdom will be able to tell Hughes of Rodgers’ vision at the club, where the Liverpool boss is currently giving youngsters like Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Jordon Ibe a chance to impress.

Rodgers will hope Wisdom returns a better player from his experience in the Championship, but he may also hope he returns with a future star alongside him.