Rob Page reveals fresh Trent Kone-Doherty transfer details following Liverpool exit

The talented winger left Liverpool last week, joining Norwegian side Molde. While the deal suited all parties, the Reds were keen to retain his services, as outlined by Page.

Rob Page said Trent Kone-Doherty turned down a contract extension at Liverpool

Liverpool Under-21 coach Rob Page has revealed Trent Kone-Doherty turned down an offer of a new contract from the club before joining Molde.

The teenager’s move to the Norwegian top flight was confirmed last week, with the Irish youth international departing to help improve his chances of playing immediately at first-team level. Unsurprisingly, that was not something Liverpool could offer, especially with talented youngsters Rio Ngumoha and Josh Abe viewed above him in the pecking order.

With Kone-Doherty’s contract set to expire this summer, Liverpool accepted an offer of €750,000 ($886K/£657K) from Molde, with the transfer window currently open in Norway. The Reds have also secured a buy-back arrangement and a healthy sell-on fee for any future transfer.

Kone-Doherty has aspirations of pushing into the senior Ireland ranks, especially with the possibility of a World Cup spot on the horizon this summer.

But there was certainly frustration at Liverpool that such a talented youth-team star has left for a relatively modest fee. He was highly regarded at the AXA Training Centre and had established himself among the club’s most talented underage players.

That was underlined by Arne Slot’s decision to twice select Kone-Doherty at senior level. Liverpool was keen for the former Derry City man to remain at the club, but Kone-Doherty opted for a new challenge.

Trent Kone-Doherty has missed just two Under-21 games all season

“We've lost a good player,” Page conceded, when speaking to Liverpool.com after Sunday’s Under-21s victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

“But in this job, you’re in it to develop players. He's decided to move on. We wanted to keep him.

“There was an offer of a contract, so it's disappointing to see him go, but that's life. That's development football; it gives others an opportunity now to step into his place and we can focus on them.”

Kone-Doherty played 23 times this season for Liverpool across various age groups, and particularly shone in the UEFA Youth League, netting three times in the competition.

Rob Page admitted he was disappointed to see Trent Kone-Doherty to leave

There was no shortage of interest in he 19-year-old over recent months, and he could have left Liverpool in January. Instead, the Reds responded well to Molde’s open approach, and a deal that suited all parties was quickly concluded.

Molde sporting director Ole Jakob Strandhagen even publicly thanked Liverpool after the transfer was completed.

“Trent is a technically good and fast winger who has shown his skills and not least potential in the final third during his time at Liverpool,” he said.

"At the same time, he has intensity and pressure in the game that benefits the team both with and without the ball. He is well educated at Liverpool, and we are very happy that he has chosen Molde as the next step in his development.

“The process has been good and we thank Liverpool for a good negotiating climate, despite the fact that they also had a strong desire to keep Trent.”