Djylian N'Guessan will officially join Liverpool on a permanent basis in January

The January transfer window is coming into sight and Liverpool have actually already made their first mid-season signing.

The Reds announced back in September that they had agreed a deal with Saint-Etienne to sign Djylian N'Guessan. But while already agreed, the 18-year-old does not officially move to Anfield on a permanent basis in a £4.25m swoop until the January window opens.

In the meantime, the teenager has spent the first half of the season on loan at Ligue 1 side Stade Brestois.

However, his game time has been somewhat limited. The forward has made three substitute appearances for the club, totalling 28 minutes, and been an unused substitute five times.

Yet he hasn’t played since a four-minute cameo off the bench in a 5-1 victory over Angers on October 10.

While he might not have seen much action of late for his loan side, N’Guessan was at least back in action on the international stage on Wednesday.

The forward was on the scoresheet for France Under-19s as they thrashed Norway 6-0, heading home a cross in the 69th minute for his country’s fifth goal before being withdrawn straight after.

The match actually marked his debut for his country at that level, though he did help France Under-20s finish fourth at last year’s World Cup - playing under former Liverpool winger Bernard Diomede.

Meanwhile, he previously enjoyed a prolific record for France U16s and U17s, returning 23 goals from 25 games - including four in the 2025 European Under-17 Championship as they lost in the final to Portugal, with his performances earning him a place in the team of the tournament.

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Liverpool will review N'Guessan’s situation in January, and, given his limited minutes in France, it could perhaps have a knock-on effect for the in-form Will Wright back at Anfield.

The 18-year-old has been in astonishing form for the Reds at academy level this season, scoring 13 goals from 12 games for the U21s in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy, as well as for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League - a competition where he is joint-top scorer with six goals after hat-tricks against LASK and Fenerbahce.

Such form has not gone unnoticed, with Wright being handed his first ever international appearance on Wednesday as he came on as a substitute in England U19s’ 4-1 win over Slovenia.

The prospect of Wright being elevated to Andoni Iraola’s first team ranks has been floated. But U21s manager Rob Page recently suggested that the striker could depart on loan in January to take the next steps in his development.

"He doesn’t have to worry about [how far away he is from the first team]," Page said. "Just bring the best version of yourself every day in training, give absolutely everything in games as he does.

"The rest will take care of itself, whether it’s something in January, whether it’s keeping with us and the 21s, whether it’s our first team, he cannot control it but he can control a game day and at the minute he’s in a great place.”

With it understandable that a move to a senior league would be a logical next step for Wright, N'Guessan could perhaps emerge as a ready-made replacement for the striker if Liverpool do decide that he should start his permanent Reds career with his new parent club.

He already has senior experience himself, beyond just his brief game-time during his current loan at Stade Brestois.

The forward made eight appearances for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 season, and featured a further five in all competitions the following season following their relegation - scoring his first senior goal in a Coupe de France clash with Quentigny.

It is clear though that N'Guessan needs game-time, though. And having seen Wright thrive for Liverpool’s youth ranks this season, a one in, one out approach could prove to be best for all parties as Reds bosses weigh up what is best for the pair’s respective development.