Liverpool have beaten Arsenal in the race to sign Salford City starlet Will Wright – just as they did in landing a top Gunners target in 2010.
The 17-year-old striker had looked set to link up in north London in a £200,000 deal having banged in over 50 goals at youth level last season.
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But it is the Reds who have secured a transfer for the youngster, who featured three times for Salford’s senior side in the 2024/25 campaign, after agreeing personal terms.
It’s not the first time Liverpool have fended off competition from Arsenal to sign a top target, having brought in Joe Cole 15 years ago.
Cole was a man in demand following his shock release by Chelsea, who he helped win three Premier League titles.
As well as Liverpool, both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were keen on keeping Cole in the capital.
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And he was expected to complete a move to north London – a side he scored twice against from his first spell at West Ham and his seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
The Mirror reported that Cole would pen a three-year deal at the Emirates.
It was stated that Cole had agreed a £90,000-a-week deal and would be unveiled following the 2010 World Cup where he would be Arsenal’s second signing of the summer after Marouane Chamakh.
Even legendary boss Arsene Wenger talked up a move for the attacking midfielder.
Waxing lyrical over Cole, he said: “I like him as a player because when he played against us he always did a lot of damage against Arsenal.
“He can create impact through his creative play. He can dribble, he can pass, he can score goals.”
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But in the end, Cole would eventually link up at Anfield on a four-year contract.
And as luck would have it, his first match would be against the Gunners on Merseyside in the opening Premier League match of the 2010/11 season.
What happened on Joe Cole’s Premier League debut for Liverpool?
Cole was named in the line-up for the encounter – his first start in the Premier League since April after he fell down the pecking order at Chelsea.
It ultimately turned out to be a top-flight debut to remember for Cole… for all the wrong reasons.
He would not finish the half.
An overzealous Cole was given a straight red card in first half stoppage time for a reckless challenge on fellow debutant Laurent Koscielny.
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Cole immediately protested his innocence towards referee Martin Atkinson, but it was in vain as the red card card was quickly dished out.
Koscielny left the field on a stretcher, but returned for the second half after receiving treatment during the break.
But perhaps the French centre-back shouldn’t have after he too was sent off in the closing stages having picked up his second yellow card in the all-action 1-1 draw.
What did Roy Hodgson say about Joe Cole’s Liverpool debut?
It was revealed by Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson following the full-time whistle that Cole was inconsolable after picking up the first red card of his career.
Speaking of Cole, who was slapped with a three-match suspension, Hodgson said: “He is not the sort who goes in for blood-curdling tackles.
“He was devastated at half-time. It was his debut, the atmosphere was fantastic and he was desperate to do well.
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“He was not playing at the top of his game, but was trying hard to get to that level, when suddenly he gets sent off.
“He was saddened by it all and not least because it put us in a difficult situation.”
For Wenger, he was just relieved that Arsenal’s worst fears were not realised after they expected Koscielny to be sidelined for months.
Though he did come to the defence of the 56-cap England international after he stressed he is not a dirty player.
Wenger stated: ” Joe Cole is usually a fair player, he is not one I would record is a guy who tries to hurt people. It is not his style.
“Maybe he was a bit rushing in his tackle. He kicked him – certainly accidentally – because he [Koscielny] had a big knock on his shin.
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“Fortunately, his shinpad protected him well. We were scared it was broken because when he was moved off the pitch the physio told me it could be broken.”
Cole eventually regained his place in the team following his return from suspension, but he failed to enjoy the season he would have envisaged.
He chipped in with just four goals and three assists in 33 matches in all competitions as Liverpool finished in sixth spot, with the player loaned out to French side Lille the following campaign.
And he would eventually return to Upton Park to join West Ham in January 2013 on a free transfer.
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As Cole declared when speaking on The Obi One podcast in 2024, he should never have joined Liverpool.
He remarked: “‘Liverpool is a great club. It didn’t work for me there but it is a fantastic club. But if I could have my time again, I would probably go abroad, somewhere hot.”
