Liverpool starlet dubbed 'the next Philipp Lahm' by Jurgen Klopp tipped to leave Anfield

Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarke is the latest name to be rumoured with an Anfield exit, following a successful loan spell with Aberdeen.

The 21-year-old playmaker has helped the Scottish side qualify for Europe, registering five goals and eight assists from midfield.

Clarkson is due to return to Liverpool at the end of the campaign, but he could soon return up north.

According to The Press and Journal, Aberdeen have "a broad agreement in place" to sign the Englishman on a permanent deal.

The report adds that Reading and a number of other English Championship clubs are also interested in Clarkson, although he is thought to want time to make a decision over his future.

Few could blame the midfielder for parting ways with his parent club, with the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott all currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, Clarkson may have faith he can still make it in Merseyside after Jurgen Klopp compared him to German legend Philipp Lahm.

What did Klopp say about Clarkson?

Clarkson has only made three senior appearances for Liverpool, but that was enough to catch the eye of his manager, who waxed lyrical about the youngster in 2021.

Speaking after Liverpool's Champions League 1-1 draw with Midtjylland the same year, Klopp raved about Clarkson, who was just 19 at the time.

"Leighton is one of the biggest talents in our club, he’s been there for ages," the Reds boss said (quotes via Metro). "He’s a midfielder, a number six type, can play eight as well."

"He’s a very talented, good football-playing boy. In Germany there’s a famous player [Lahm] who played similar to him, you might have to go back a little bit longer, I don’t want to put pressure on the boy.

"But he reminds me a lot of him. He’s just a good footballer, a smart footballer, fast, physically strong. If you see his legs they are not like 19-year-old boy legs, they are already grown."

Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Transfers, Aberdeen, Premier League, Scottish Premiership

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno