Liverpool could be about to receive another significant boost to their transfer budget after winger Sheyi Ojo was linked with a permanent move away from the club.

What’s the story?

According to AllNigeriaSoccer, German outfit Bayer Leverkusen have identified the 24-year-old as a primary target following the departure of Demarai Gray to Everton.

Ojo last made an appearance for Liverpool three years ago and has spent five of the last six seasons out on loan with Wolves, Fulham, Stade de Reims, Rangers and Cardiff City.

With the powerful forward absent from the Reds’ pre-season tour of Austria and beginning his training with the Anfield outfit’s U23 side, it seems a transfer away from Merseyside is inevitable.

He’s been shocking

The 19-time English champions had high hopes for Ojo in his youth team days, but the former England U21 international has failed to live up to his early promise.

During a loan spell with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers during the 2019/20 campaign, he struggled to make an impact in Scottish football, drawing criticism from several pundits, including ex-Ibrox ace Neil McCann.

Speaking on Open Goal’s Keeping the Ball on the Ground podcast, Slane said: “For me, I’m going to say it, the boy Ojo isn’t Rangers class. He’s not Rangers quality for me. He really isn’t.

“I thought at first he’d be a really good signing…he’s not Rangers quality. He doesn’t offer enough and to me, he looks lost in a man’s world out there. He does not look a Rangers player, a player that wants to win the league, a player that’s mentally tough enough.”

During that spell in Glasgow, the £10k-per-week attacker found the net just five times and started on only nine occasions in the Scottish Premiership. A spell with Cardiff was semi-productive, contributing to 12 strikes but it was fine evidence that he simply isn’t Premier League quality.

With the effects of the ongoing pandemic continuing to restrict football club’s ability to spend in the current window, securing lucrative sales for unwanted fringe players is the easiest way to boost the coffers.

Liverpool have already managed to offload Taiwo Awoniyi and Marko Gruijc for a combined £17m to Union Berling and Porto, respectively, and Leverkusen’s interest in Ojo could see another sizeable sum land on the Reds’ lap.

And, in other news…James Pearce drops Liverpool transfer update that may leave fans concerned