Harry Wilson’s way into the Welsh national team was predetermined. Where is the Liverpool top talent heading now at club level? I’ve heard some Bundesliga clubs are showing interest.
On 16 October 2013 all the world suddenly knew Harry Wilson. Not because the night before, at the age of 16, he had become the youngest Welsh international of all time. Rather, everyone talked about the teenager because his grandfather Peter Edwards apparently has prophetic abilities. 15 years earlier at Wrexham in the north-east of Wales, he had bet £50 that his grandson would one day run for Wales’ senior side. After Wilson’s debut for his home country was Payday and Edwards got his winnings of a proud 125,000 pounds.
Edwards didn’t want to know about luck. After all, he claimed, young Harry’s talent and joy of playing could not have been overlooked in his early childhood: “A sure-fire thing – after all, the boy could dribble even before he had learned to walk!
Harry has long since mastered running perfectly and his excellent dribbling qualities have convinced fans and opponents in recent years. The question now arises as to where the 22-year-old will be dribbling in the coming season. He has a contract with FC Liverpool, winner of the Champions League, until 2023. However, the competition is quite strong on his parade positions, the offensive sidelines, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Wilson has had a convincing rental season at Derby County. Under Frank Lampard, the attacker developed splendidly. He scored 18 goals and delivered six assists in 49 competitive games. In the League Cup, he shocked record champions Manchester United with a fantastic free-kick from just under 30 metres. He missed his way to the Premier League with his club in the playoffs against Aston Villa.
Now he’s back at the Reds. “It couldn’t have gone much better,” he summarized a few weeks ago in an interview with SOCCERSCORE and Goal. “There were a lot of highlights. The best thing was the win against Manchester United in Old Trafford. Sure, there were difficult moments too. But I’ve taken a lot out of this year.”
A major factor was the new Chelsea trainer Lampard. Among other things, he also used Wilson in a more central role. There had been visual instruction from one of the greats in England in the last decade. Wilson reveals: “Before Christmas we had a few injuries and the manager pulled me into the middle. He showed me some videos, among others by David Silva. He’s as weedy as I am. He’s playing at Division. It’s about how to use your body, keep an overview of the situation and play with your head up.”
Lampard praised the performances of the loan: “He played very well. No question he was one of our best this season.”
Wilson, who shone at Derby not only as a strong free-kick but also as an ice-cold penalty shooter, now wants to take the next step in his development. The big question is whether he can do it in Liverpool. He’s been playing for the Reds since he was eight years old. With a place in the professional squad, a dream would come true for him. He didn’t want to “look too far ahead” in May and is currently considering whether to try his luck at the Champions League winner or switch to a smaller club.
But his way could possibly lead him into the Bundesliga. Sky Sports reported a few weeks ago that three clubs from the German House of Lords were interested in signing the dribbling attacker: RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha BSC. The Sun later went even further and wrote that Leipzig was the most promising candidate and Wilson was allowed to move to Saxony for 24 million euros.
Wilson is also associated with the English clubs Crystal Palace, FC Southampton, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United. Derby County wants to hold him despite the missed promotion and Lampard exit.
The decision has not yet been made. In preparation for the new season, Jürgen Klopp wants to get an idea of the performance level of the eleven-time A-national player. Only then should the decision be made as to whether and how Wilson will be sold.
So far, Wilson’s on the Reds preparation tour is okay. At the 2:3 defeat against Borussia Dortmund within the ICC he got 60 minutes of playing practice and showed light and shadow: At first he missed a big chance to equalise, later he combined splendidly with Ryan Kent and scored the goal to 1:1.
Wilson was also in the starting eleven against Bradford City (3-1) and FC Sevilla (1-2), but without getting anywhere. Whether that’s enough to recommend yourself for a permanent place in the excellently staffed Klopp squad.
The left foot, anyway, knows what it wants. At the latest since Liverpool’s 4-0 victory in the Champions League semi-final return leg against FC Barcelona a few weeks ago. Wilson watched the game in the stadium and said, “This is inspiring for me. These opportunities, these atmospheres – that’s what you dream of. I want this, whether in Liverpool or anywhere else. (…) I want to experience this mood and these emotions. I can’t wait.”
Whether Peter Edwards has also placed a bet that his grandson will one day be in the Champions League is not known.
