Liverpool Have Not Agreed Transfer of Will Hughes, Says Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied recent reports of an arranged deal for Derby midfielder Will Hughes, following speculation to the contrary.

The Daily Express' James Dickenson reported earlier this week that Liverpool had staved off competition from Arsenal and Manchester United to secure the England Under-21 international's signature.

However, as reported on Twitter by The Times' Tony Barrett, Rodgers responded on Thursday: "Nothing could be further from the truth."

The 18-year-old is among England's most highly rated young players, despite emerging outside of the top flight. Already in his third campaign around the Derby senior squad, he is also not lacking in experience for someone so young.

Dickenson had reported last month that Hughes would be allowed to leave the Rams by manager Steve McClaren should a bid of £12 million be received for his services.

That fee remains the quoted valuation in most reports on the youngster's future, with the amount not dissimilar to fees paid for fellow prospects Wilfried Zaha, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey in recent years.

Liverpool will not be averse to paying such a fee if they see Hughes as a future star. The club have acted quickly in recent seasons to secure young English talent and will doubtless continue that policy in the coming years.

In Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe and Andre Wisdom, the club already have three talented young English players on the fringes of their first team, and the hope will be to add to that trend as the club returns to more traditional values.

Beating Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United to Hughes' capture would be a real coup for the Anfield hierarchy, but it would appear there is no deal in place just yet.

What is interesting is that Hughes is yet another leading English talent produced outside the academies of the country's biggest clubs, with many of the country's leading young players in recent years having began life in the second tier.

Once they emerge, though, it is never long before they make the step up to one of the Premier League's financial heavyweights.