Liverpool are finalising a deal to sign 15-year-old centre-back Dara Jikiemi from Celtic, beating a number of clubs including Nottingham Forest to the transfer.Jikiemi is yet to break through into Celtic’s first-team squad but is already playing three years above his age group as part of their U18s.That has seen him catch the eye of scouts from a host of clubs and spark a tussle for the teenager’s signature.According to a number of sources including the Mail‘s Lewis Steele, Liverpool are nearing a deal to bring Jikiemi to Merseyside.Forest are among the other sides to have pursued a deal but Jikiemi, who will turn 16 at the start of January, is set to join the Reds’ academy in 2026.If the move goes through as expected he would follow in the footsteps of Ben Gannon-Doak, who left Celtic for Liverpool in a transfer worth £600,000 in 2022.By that point Gannon-Doak had already debuted for Celtic’s first team but that should not downplay Jikiemi’s potential – particularly as fewer risks are typically taken when bringing centre-backs through.Who is Dara Jikiemi? Profile, position and where he’d fit in• Age: 15 (Born Jan 9, 2010)• Club: Celtic• Position: Centre-back (can also play midfield)• Nationality: Scotland (U15s captain)Jikiemi will almost certainly begin life at Liverpool as part of Simon Wiles’ U18s, who already count two recent signings as regular starters at the heart of defence.Lucas Clarke arrived from Man City this time last year while Harvey Owen was brought in from Wolves for £800,000 in 2023.Prince Cisse, son of former Reds striker Djibril Cisse, has also been converted to a centre-back this season but it is clear Liverpool are targeting more reinforcements in the role at youth level.An unnamed trialist took part in a recent U21s friendly, starting alongside Amara Nallo in a 2-0 win over Salford City at the AXA Training Centre.Liverpool’s academy transfer latestU21s head coach Rob Page can count Nallo, Wellity Lucky, Carter Pinnington, Lucas Pitt and Emmanuel Airoboma as centre-back options along with 24-year-old Rhys Williams, but that group is likely to change in January.Williams is due a move when the transfer window opens while Nallo could be considered for a loan and Lucky has recently made the step up to the fringes of the first team.Left-back Luke Chambers is nearing a return from a long-term injury, while James Norris recently returned to the club following the end of a season-long loan with Irish side Shelbourne.Liverpool allowed midfielder Scofield Lonmeni to leave back in October, with the 17-year-old making the switch to Reading.