Bobby Duncan now after Steven Gerrard's cousin sensationally left Liverpool

Bobby Duncan joined Liverpool in 2018, but he left the Reds under a cloud just a year later following an agent dispute — and Steven Gerrard's cousin remains without a club

Bobby Duncan did not make one senior appearance for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard's cousin Bobby Duncan remains without a club seven years after departing Liverpool in 2019.

The former striker could be viewed as a major what-if for the Reds following his emergence as a promising young prospect. Being related to Gerrard inevitably created immense pressure, but Duncan seemed capable of managing the attention while progressing through the youth system.

The 24-year-old began his footballing career at Mossley Hill and St Helens Town before joining Wigan's academy in 2010. He was then snapped up by Manchester City a year later and stayed with Liverpool's rival until 2017. An alleged contract dispute kept him on the sidelines for a year before his move to Anfield came to fruition.

Duncan joined his boyhood club in 2018, and the future appeared promising for the youngster. He found the net regularly alongside fellow striker Paul Glatzel throughout the 2018-19 campaign, including a vital late equalizer in the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City, which allowed the Reds to prevail on penalties.

During pre-season in 2019, his Liverpool career seemed to be gaining momentum when he featured for the senior squad against Tranmere. The youngster scored in a 6-0 triumph under Jurgen Klopp and was praised for how composed he appeared on the pitch.

However, within a month, Duncan's situation took a sharp turn for the worse. Saif Rubie, his agent at the time, unleashed a barrage of accusations against the club.

Duncan was part of Liverpool training with Virgil van Dijk and several other senior stars(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool responded with a statement: "Liverpool Football Club is aware of and disappointed by the unattributed comments and unfounded allegations that have been made in the media regarding one of our players.

"As the interests of the player in question are not best served by either inaccurate speculation, inflammatory statements or public discourse, we will be making no further comment.

"We will, however, continue our efforts to work privately with the player to find resolution in the best interests of all involved."

Duncan secured a move to Fiorentina before summer's end, though he struggled to settle in Italy. The following year, he returned to England to join Derby.

It was at Pride Park where the striker finally earned his senior debut, though it amounted to just a single outing in a 2-0 FA Cup loss to Chorley. He later moved to Spanish third-division side Linese, making seven appearances between 2022 and 2023.

Duncan's ex-agent, Rubie, revealed to talkSPORT that he advised Duncan to stay put at Liverpool in 2019 rather than agitate for a transfer. However, it was during this time that the forward publicly disagreed with these assertions.

In September 2022, Duncan took to social media to clarify matters, stating: "You and I both know the truth. I didn't have a decision nor say. Not once have I spoken upon [sic] this top[ic] in '4 years' as it's been my main priority to get my career back on track. But, yet you think you have the right to mention my name on a live radio show.

"The truth will be told by myself when the time is right. And lastly, just to clarify, there was no advising given as you point blank made your mind up, publicly. And by then the damage had been done."

At present, Duncan is without a club, remaining a free agent, and his last appearance was in April 2023.