The former Liverpool academy director was recently appointed Nottingham Forest’s director of football.
Former Rangers pair Mark Warburton (L) and David Weir have followed McParland to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest knew what they were doing appointing Frank McParland. Less than two weeks since his arrival on Trentside, Forest’s new director of football has already convinced both Mark Warburton and David Weir to follow him south – and the Liverpudlian’s contacts book extends far beyond the former Rangers pair.
Academy boss at Liverpool for the best part of 14 years until 2013, McParland has previously used his Reds connections to sign Joao Teixeira for Brentford and Jordan Rossiter for Rangers, with plenty of others from the Merseyside area – Jake Bidwell, Joey Barton and Clint Hill to name but a few – turning up at the 56-year-old’s past clubs.
It is likely then, that McParland will look to Anfield for talent ahead of his first transfer window at Forest, and it won’t take too much digging to unearth the name Harry Wilson – in the unlikely event he’s not already aware of the Welsh starlet.
With 25 goals and counting for Liverpool’s Under-23s this season, Wilson is already turning heads, with manager Jurgen Klopp calling him up to train with the first team and midfielder Adam Lallana singling him out as a player with “a great future ahead of him”.
Liverpool’s Harry Wilson (C) in action
Klopp has never been afraid to blood youngsters, as evidenced by the debuts handed to Kevin Stewart, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn during the German’s reign, however, a chance to play regular football away from Anfield next season could be more beneficial than a few minutes here and there for Liverpool.
Wilson, who made headlines as Wales’ youngest ever international in 2013, did have a brief spell on loan to Crewe Alexandra last term, although his form since then suggests he’s ready to dip his toes at a higher level than League One.
And Forest, who are yet to properly replace a goalscoring winger of their own in Oliver Burke, could be a good move for the Reds Under-23s’ captain.
Liverpool are one of several Premier League giants said to be circling around Forest’s Ben Brereton and loaning them Wilson would be the least they could do in exchange.
Should Nottingham Forest try to land Liverpool’s Wilson this summer?
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