Coventry City full-back Sam McCallum has been linked with a transfer move to join runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool this January, but now Jurgen Klopp's Reds could be poised to drop their reported pursuit.
The teenager, who has battled Brandon Mason for the left-back spot in Mark Robins' Sky Blues side, has also been linked with Nottingham Forest this season along with Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Leicester City .
It was understood that Liverpool, who were crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions on Saturday evening, were leading the race to land the former Herne Bay man in a deal that would have seen him loaned back to City for the remainder of their League One promotion push.
However, Jurgen Klopp could now be poised to perform a u-turn after receiving a grade A mid-season report on one of his fast developing Under-23s left-backs from youth coach Neil Critchley.
Liverpool were said to be keen on landing McCallum to provide back-up for first choice Andy Robertson with the club currently without a second-choice left-back.
But in recent weeks 20-year-old Tony Gallacher, who arrived at Anfield from Falkrik in 2018, has improved his performances dramatically since making his Liverpool debut in their 5-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Aston Villa this month, according to his coach.
“Tony has been excellent in the last few weeks,” said Critchley, speaking to LFC's official website.
"He’s really stepped up in terms of his performance.
"I think he is benefiting from playing games on a regular basis, his attitude to his work is outstanding and he is reaping the benefits of that.”
The news will come as good news for Sky Blues fans wanting to see McCallum stay at City's Ryton-on-Dunsmore base.
“Playing in the Premier League is obviously still a dream,” he told Kent Online earlier this season .
“If I went all the way it’d be so big for me because I’m one of those millions of kids who have wanted it.
“But at the moment I’m focusing on trying to get the starting position at Coventry and then see where it goes from there.
“I’m definitely living the dream.”
