Liverpool set to sign Jonjo Shelvey as Rafa BenÃtez springs surprise
• 18-year-old midfielder to sign from Charlton for £3m
• The two clubs are in talks about a strategic partnership
David Hytner The Guardian, Wednesday 28 April 2010 Article history
Liverpool have agreed a deal that could be worth up to £3m with Charlton Athletic for Jonjo Shelvey and they hope to conclude the transfer of the 18-year-old attacking midfielder today.
The England youth player, rated as one of the most exciting prospects in the country, had his medical on Merseyside last night. With the player's personal terms close to being finalised, Rafael BenÃtez, the Liverpool manager, is poised to pull off something of a coup. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur had all expressed an interest but Shelvey has been persuaded that Liverpool is the best move for him.
Liverpool will pay Charlton an initial £1.7m, with the remainder of the fee subject to appearances and performance-related targets at domestic and international level. Charlton have also inserted a clause into the deal whereby Liverpool will loan players to them next season. "As part of the potential transfer," a statement on the Charlton official website said, "the two clubs are in talks to develop a strategic partnership involving the development of players in both directions."
Shelvey, who is 6ft 1in and can also play as a winger or second striker, became Charlton's youngest debutant in April 2008, when he played against Barnsley at Oakwell aged 16 years and 59 days. He is also the club's youngest FA Cup and league goalscorer.
The Romford-born player has made 48 appearances and scored eight goals, including four in the current campaign, in which Charlton still harbour hopes of promotion from League One. With two games left they entertain Leeds United on Saturday, hoping to bridge the five-point gap on the division's second-placed team, and are guaranteed a play-off spot.
BenÃtez restructured Liverpool's youth academy last summer, as he was frustrated by its lack of products, but Shelvey hopes to establish himself as a member of the first-team squad. He has been tracked by leading clubs for many months but he has bided his time in order to move when he felt ready, having gained valuable first-team experience.
On the day of his 17th birthday, he signed his first professional contract with Charlton, turning down the chance to join Chelsea for £3.5m. Shelvey might have reasoned that his opportunities would have been limited at Stamford Bridge and a major part of his talks with Liverpool have concerned whether BenÃtez would grant him his chance in the near future.
BenÃtez has endured a difficult season in the boardroom and on the pitch, with the former impacting on the latter. He claimed before the Europa League defeat of Benfica that he had taken the club as far as he could without new investment and it remains unclear how much money he will be given this summer, over and above what he raises through player sales.
