The president of the Ghanaian side Steadfast has confirmed that Liverpool have won the race to sign young striker Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Bayer Leverkusen had come close to winning the race for the 17-year-old, who is seen as one of Ghana’s most exciting talents, but talks broke down at the last minute when several Premier League sides threw their hats in the ring.
Manchester United were reportedly keen, but it is Liverpool who have won the race for his signature with Steadfast president Hon. Haruna Iddrisu reveals (via Football Ghana) that the Reds have paid a fee of £ 1.5 million for the teenager.
Liverpool have not yet confirmed the deal, but it is believed that a message is now far away and will also include a confirmation that Issahaku will spend next season on loan in Portugal with league champions Sporting CP.
An exciting, versatile forward, Issahaku managed two goals and an assist in this year’s African Cup for 20 years, where he was named the tournament’s best player even though he played against players who were almost five years older than him then.
He has since been called up to Ghana’s senior side and spent two games on the bench in March.
Liverpool did not expect to get the chance to sign Issahaku as Bayer Leverkusen came close to concluding a deal, only to withdraw from the last-minute talks, with one of the middlemen working on the deal citing attitude problems from the player’s entourage.
“Fatawu is a very talented player and Bayer made a very good offer,” Michael Rahnau told Kicker. “But I understand that those in charge of Bayer withdrew from the transfer because of the questionable and disrespectful behavior of Issahaku’s advisers.”
After seeing their meeting with the German side interrupted, Issahaku’s representatives were quickly on the phone and perceived to have made offers from Basel, Anderlecht, RB Salzburg and Ajax as well.
It is Liverpool who won the race for his signature, but when he will actually be seen in a red shirt remains to be seen. The transfer provides reminders of the deal to sign Taiwo Awoniyi, who left Nigeria to sign for Liverpool in 2015 and was finally granted a work permit to play in England this summer, aged 23.
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