Chris Coleman handed Harry Wilson his debut for Wales – now will he help him take the next step with a loan move to Championship strugglers Sunderland?
Harry Wilson became the youngest debutant in Welsh history when Chris Coleman brought the fresh-faced 16-year-old off the bench against Belgium back in 2013.
Four years on, however, Wilson has played as many games for his country as he has for his club – just one. And after failing to break into Liverpool’s first-team despite some startling performances for the under-23s, the Wrexham-born wonderkid appears set to leave on loan in January.
The Lancashire Post claims that Preston North End are interested in bringing Wilson to Deepdale with manager Alex Neil aiming to enhance his frontline.
But, after Sunderland made failed moves to sign fellow Welshmen Danny Ward and Ben Woodburn on loan from Liverpool (Sunderland Echo), surely the Black Cats will throw themselves head-first into the race for Wilson.
“If he fulfils his potential there is another good player on our hands,” former Wales boss Coleman, who replaced Simon Grayson at the Stadium of Light last month, told the BBC back in 2013.
And a short-term spell at Sunderland could be the making of a player who is yet to make his mark in the senior game. The Black Cats could do with some creativity and unpredictability in the final third and Wilson could provide exactly that.
After netting 12 in 18 for Liverpool’s Under-23s last season, Wilson has nine in ten this – he has clearly outgrown the academy pond and surely deserves a chance to prove himself at senior level.
And where better than a Sunderland side managed by a coach who knows just what a precocious talent he is?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
