Liverpool may have made three £100m-plus signings over the past two summers in Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, but internally there is a realisation that a significant amount of young talent was sold last summer.

Since 2020, Liverpool have made more than £230m from selling players who have represented them at youth level. It has been a major part of Fenway Sports Group's self-sustaining business model, with the funds reinvested into the club.

There has been "a premium on young English players" since Brexit - and that's why Liverpool's global talent department - led by Matt Newberry - now have a major role to play.

"The impact of Brexit on the English market is quite significant," Liverpool's academy director Alex Inglethorpe told BBC Sport. "Time will tell if the premium is worthwhile, but it is definitely a change.

"So it is fairly natural for a club like Liverpool to look within Merseyside in the first instance and then broaden that out. National recruitment happens at 14 years old and, after that, you look at global recruitment."

Mor Talla Ndiaye's journey began in the Senegalese village of Sandiara, where he played football in the streets. He progressed through the ranks playing for Bousports Academy before joining Amitie Football Club.

Liverpool fended off interest from other European clubs and signed the 18-year-old for about £1m plus add-ons in January 2026.

Ndiaye, who is a left-footed centre-half, featured in pre-season under Andoni Iraola and was an unused substitute in three games last season under Arne Slot.