Gallacher in ‘dream’ £200k move to Liverpool
FALKIRK left-back Tony Gallacher will be looking to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Andy Robertson after joining Liverpool in a ‘dream’ £200,000 switch from the Bairns. The 18-year-old has some way to go if he is to emulate Scotland international Robertson by breaking into Jurgen Klopp’s first team, but he has already won admirers far and wide after being previously linked with a move following interest from Barcelona, Manchester United and Rangers. Bairns boss Paul Hartley yesterday described it as a ‘surreal’ move for the youngster, who made his first-team debut for the club aged 16 in the Scottish Cup against Fraserburgh. ‘It’s an unbelievable move for Tony. It’s great for the kid,’ said Hartley after Gallacher impressed Liverpool in a trial earlier this month. ‘For a player to go from Falkirk to Liverpool doesn’t happen a lot. It’s a dream come true and we can’t stand in the way of that. ‘Hopefully he goes there and proves how good a talent he is. ‘There’s been a lot of transfer talk surrounding him over the last 18 months but to go to Liverpool is a little bit surreal for him. ‘We wish him all the best. I’m sure he’s got a bright future ahead of him.’ Gallacher has made 17 appearances for the Falkirk first team this season and will initially join up with Liverpool’s Under-23s. He’s just the latest Bairns player to win a big move to England, following the likes of Scott Arfield, Murray Wallace, Stephen Kingsley, Jay Fulton, Ryan Blair and Botti Biabi in recent years. Ironically, however, his transfer to Anfield comes just weeks after Falkirk cut their ties with the Forth Valley Football Academy that helped develop the young defender.