Liverpool has established a trend of acquiring some of the finest young centre-back talents in the game.
Last summer, the club signed Giovanni Leoni, who is now 19, from Parma for approximately £26m. In January, they secured a deal for Mor Talla Ndiaye, who joined the team from FC Amitie.
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Additionally, agreements were made for two more young defenders, Jeremy Jacquet and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, both of whom will join the club when the transfer window reopens.
However, Reds recruiters have their eyes set on more talent.
The club is reportedly scouting an exceptional young Australian talent named Lucas Herrington.
The Socceroo has recently had a bid from Barcelona turned down by his MLS club, the Colorado Rapids.
According to a report from The Athletic, Herrington is expected to command a fee exceeding the $7.7m that the Rapids received for Moise Bombito when he ultimately transfers.
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Colorado Rapids Reject Barca’s Bid for Herrington
The report indicates that “Barcelona’s initial offer for Herrington has been turned down by Colorado.”
This could pave the way for Liverpool to sign the 18-year-old, who is currently representing his nation at the FIFA World Cup.
“Liverpool has sent scouts to watch him this season,” as noted in a report.
Lucas Herrington: Overview
Lucas Herrington is an 18-year-old centre-back from Australia, standing approximately 1.92m, who has established himself as a key figure for the Colorado Rapids in MLS. He has also earned caps for the Socceroos after making his debut in March 2026.
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A native of Brisbane and a product of the Brisbane Roar academy, he is characterized as a modern central defender: aerially dominant, physically imposing, yet composed in possession and adept at playing from the back.
After joining Colorado in 2026, he has been a regular starter, playing every minute at the heart of their defense, and has quickly risen to prominence as one of MLS’s top young centre-backs.
He is under contract until the end of 2029, with an option for 2030, putting the Rapids in a strong negotiating position. This reinforces reports that they wish to retain him for a minimum of two full seasons to maximize his market value.
There is already significant European interest in Herrington, with Barcelona’s rejected bid, along with monitoring from clubs like Everton and West Ham also tracking him, among other European clubs.
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The Rapids are reportedly eyeing a fee in the range of €15–20m shortly, with some projections suggesting his value could reach higher. Thus, a potential transfer to a development-oriented European club—Barcelona being a frontrunner—seems likely if the MLS cannot keep pace with his career progression.