Liverpool have been at it again and have once again popped down to shop in Southampton, not at West Quay but at Staplewood where Brendan Rodgers spent many a happy hour in a tree back in 2014.

The departure of Virgil Van Dijk in January 2018 was in very controversial circumstances and given our defence at the moment it was very unlikely that one of our first team players would be the subject of a bid from Liverpool this time around, but we have lost one of the youth team.

The man in question is Oludare Olufunwa who has been signed by Liverpool after being released by Saints.

The 21 year old centre back had been a regular in Saints B team sides, but the club had decided he didn't have what it takes to get into the first team and had decided not to renew his contract.

This is where it gets exciting for Olufunwa but strange reading for the average football fan, but emphasises the change in strategy at football clubs.

According to the media Liverpool have not bought him with a view to breaking into their first team, but to bolster their onw B team.

The B team for football clubs nowadays is not as it was 10 or 20 years ago when reserve team football was in it's heyday, clubs have to have an academy side, but for Liverpool and the like it is not about a conveyor belt of players into the first team, but bringing on the odd talent every few years and moving the rest on.

It is hard to see Olufunwa making the same impression at Anfield as Virgil Van Dijk, in truth the player himself must have been worried about his future a month or so ago and hopeful of getting in at a League Two side, but now he gets to train with Liverpool for a year and that will enhance his reputation and perhaps earn him a decent club when he leaves.

Photo: Action Images

ChristchurchSaint added 14:00 - Aug 10 Saw a few comments yesterday saying how we have messed up again, we release him, and Scousepoool sign him. Maybe we have, but also we may not know the whole story- Did he have the “Obafemi” attitude, or worse, modelled himself on Lemina. Only time will tell!
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SanMarco added 17:39 - Aug 10 They are hardly 'raiding' if we'd already released him. The wealthy clubs can afford to buy up players like this. It doesn't mean Saints have made a mistake - alright, if he goes on to be a superstar yes - but he is more likely to end up at Swansea or Tranmere...
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KriSaint added 16:40 - Aug 12 Disappointing. I admire Oludare Olufunwa. Saw him as an up and coming right back. Strange decision by Saints to let him go, and to see L'pool sign him is just sickening.
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