31 May 2023 , 15:49
920
0
Liverpool Women could be set for a switch to Melwoord training ground after it was reported that the club are close to securing a deal to buy back the former training complex.
The news arrives months after Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher confirmed the club made an approach to buy back the historic site for the club's women's team.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds departed their old base in West Derby in November 2020 to move to their brand new £50m AXA Training Centre in Kirkby. Affordable housing developer Torus bought the site from Liverpool and later teamed up with club legends Carragher and Robbie Fowler in 2021 to retain it for community work.
The Reds women’s senior team, who finished seventh in the Women’s Super League this season after returning to the top-flight, currently train at Tranmere Rovers’ Solar Campus in Wallasey, Wirral. They also share the League Two side's stadium, Prenton Park.
However, providing a facility specifically for the women’s team to utilise has been heavily mooted over the past year as the club look to build on an impressive first season back in the WSL under manager Matt Beard.
Jurgen Klopp's approach with Robert Lewandowski bodes well for Darwin Nunez
And according to the Athletic, Melwood emerged as the preferred option following ongoing discussions with Torus.
What price Liverpool will pay to purchase the land back is unclear but it is believed to be more than what the club initially sold the property for.
If the deal goes through, Beard’s squad is set to move to the base in September. Under the current plans, Carragher’s 23 Foundation and the Fowler Education & Football Academy will continue to operate from the base as well, with the women’s and youth academy set to share the indoor and outdoor facilities.
Liverpool FC Melwood Training Facility in West Derby, Liverpool. Photo by Colin LaneBeard has previously spoken about the club's hope for the women's team have their own training base for the 2023/24 season, with all options being explored. Beard toldThis Is Anfieldafter the Championship promotion: “If you look at Kirkby, if we went there you can probably only house the first team.
“Kirkby wouldn’t be able to house under-18s, under-21s, first team. My preference would be where we can house them together. We want to develop our own players, like what’s happened on the men’s side. We want to replicate that. It’s going to take a little bit of time but the start of that process is getting our own training facility.”
Liverpool Women fell to a 1-0 loss to Manchester United on the final day of the WSL season but can hold their heads high after an impressive debut campaign in the top-flight, in which the club mounted a shock defeat to reigning champions Chelsea on the first day of the season after two years outside the top-flight.
The Reds finished seventh in the table, seven points behind Merseyside rivals Everton but a move to Melwood would represent a significant step forward in the club's plans for growing their women's department.