Liverpool has reportedly ended its interest in signing young Salford City striker Will Wright, who scored over 50 goals across all age levels last season.

It emerged earlier this month that both Manchester City and Liverpool were monitoring the 17-year-old, with the Daily Mail reporting that Liverpool had made Wright an offer to move to Anfield, while City was said to be readying an offer worth $137,000 - plus add-ons.

However, as Liverpool closes in on a deal to sign Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, the Reds have seemingly shelved their interest in Wright, who could now end up at Arsenal.



Read More.

Liverpool in talks over transfer to pip Man City and Arsenal to 50-goal wonderkid	Liverpool's SIX striker targets if they can't sign Alexander Isak including shock Premier League name, Aston Villa in for Man United star and Arsenal join race for EFL wonderkid: TRANSFER CONFIDENTIAL	Arsenal 'pushing to complete deal for Salford City wonderkid' - as Premier League rivals Liverpool 'withdraw from race for teenage forward'

The Athletic reports that Per Mertesacker, the manager of Arsenal's academy, is targeting Wright as part of his drive to bring elite young talent into the North London club.

A number of other Premier League clubs are interested in Wright, but it seems as though Arsenal is now the frontrunner to land the teenager.

One player Liverpool has reached an agreement to sign, though, is Ekitike, with the club's heavy spending continuing after the acquisitions of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez earlier in the summer.

According to Mirror Football, Ekitike has given the green light to a move to Anfield and will ink a six-year deal, with Newcastle now out of the running to land the Frenchman

Hugo Ekitike is closing in on a move to Liverpool

The addition of Ekitike will push Liverpool's expenditure to well over $300 million since its Premier League title victory, but despite his £86.5 million ($115.9 million) release clause, Liverpool is hopeful of negotiating a lower price.

Regarding outgoings, Darwin Nunez's move to Napoli is off: Liverpool and Napoli were always well apart with their valuations of Nunez, with the Reds holding out for around $70 million for the striker, and the Serie A champion not willing to pay anywhere near that amount.

Liverpool knocked back approaches for Nunez from clubs in Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window, but there remains a strong market for the Reds' No

9 from clubs in the Gulf state.

Nunez was reportedly disappointed that he was not given the opportunity to at least listen to Al-Nassr's offer, with Liverpool dismissing an $87 million bid and informing the Saudi Pro League club that the forward was not for sale this month at any price.

Liverpool's stance in January was that Nunez was not for sale, with squad depth key as the Reds pursued glory on all four fronts, but Nunez is now very much for sale as the Reds pursue a replacement for the Uruguayan.


For more news relating to Newcastle United, visit our sister site NUFC Latest Live.