This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Football Insider is reporting that Liverpool are now prepared to let Rhian Brewster leave on loan in January.

What’s the story?

During the summer, Jurgen Klopp blocked any short-term moves for the 19-year-old, with him looking to integrate the teenager into the first-team squad.

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However, it now seems the 52-year-old has changed his mind, and is prepared to listen to temporary offers during the January transfer window.

Why not in the summer?

On the face of it, this update is good news. So far in his professional career, Brewster has made just two appearances, both coming in the League Cup this season. Whilst he may appear in the semi-finals of that competition next month considering that most of the first-team players will be at the Club World Cup in Qatar, it is still not enough football for a player of his age. He will turn 20 in April of next year – he desperately needs time on the field, and a loan spell will give him that.

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However, it does beg the question as to why he wasn’t allowed to leave at the start of the current campaign. The Reds already have a back-up striker in Divock Origi, whilst Roberto Firmino is the number one choice up front for Klopp. As such, Brewster has been reduced to matches with the development squads – a level which he has now surely outgrown – or a spot on the substitutes bench, which is perhaps even worse. Clearly, he was only ever going to be a bit-part player at Anfield this campaign.

Moving on loan halfway through the campaign throws up its own problems as well. There is often far more pressure on players to hit the ground running as we approach the business end of the season. Should he depart at the start of next year, he will have no time to adapt to senior football, a level at which he has little experience, whilst he will also need to get to know his teammates incredibly fast. It is not the best choice for a young footballer’s first steps.

Klopp has received plaudits from Sadio Mane (Liverpool Monthly Magazine via The Daily Mirror) for the job he has done at Liverpool, but on this occasion, he has got it wrong. A loan move is needed in January, but it could be too little too late.

Meanwhile, Liverpool could be finally rid themselves of a major dud in January, and they may even make a profit!