Liverpool academy chief Frank McParland admits he'd welcome a formal "tie-up" with a lower league club to place young players on-loan.
McParland wrote in the Daily Mail: "Personally, I'd be more in favour of a tie-up with a team or developing your own B team. I think that's a great idea. That way you can imprint your own ideals with your own coaches. It works fantastically well in Spain and maybe it's something that will come on more with the difference in finances between Premier League sides and those in the lower tiers.
"If it's a tie-up with another side you obviously have to respect that club's traditions and fanbase. I remember talk of us forming a link up with Crewe many years ago but for one reason or another it didn't happen. All the same, hypothetically speaking now, the way they play would probably suit where we would want some of our players to grow.
"It's something worth looking at but we have to have utmost respect for the other club's identity."
