This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Real Salt Lake has been linked with some high-profile attacking talents this offseason in eventual Designated Player signing Albert Rusnák, American superstar Landon Donovan and former RSL attacker Luis Silva.

But it appears RSL could be closing in on another potential addition.

League sources told the Tribune Wednesday that a return to RSL could be in the cards for Liverpool FC striker and former RSL academy product Brooks Lennon in 2017. The 19-year-old from Paradise Valley, Ariz., who signed with Liverpool in July 2015, has spent the bulk of his time with the Liverpool U23s during the 2016-17 campaign.

RSL, through a team spokesman, declined comment on any potential move for Lennon.

Lennon scored 31 goals for the RSL academy in 2014-2015 and has also represented the U.S. U-18s at the youth national team level. Recently, Lennon notched two goals in the Liverpool U-23s 4-1 win over Barnet in a friendly at Kirkby Academy in Liverpool. It was reported by ThisIsAnfield.com that Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish — father of former RSL assistant coach Paul Dalglish — was in attendance for Lennon's two-goal outing.

During his time at RSL's academy in Casa Grande, Ariz., Lennon was considered by many as one of the top youth prospects in the nation. He trained with Liverpool's youth system a few years ago before making the move permanent in the summer of 2015. Lennon also reportedly drew interest from such clubs as Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and Aston Villa prior to finally joining Liverpool.

Lennon described his move to Liverpool in-depth in a Q&A with ESPNFC in Sept. 2016.

"There is a lot of similarities and a lot of differences," Lennon said when asked to describe the differences between coming up in RSL's academy and life at Liverpool. "Similarities-wise, the Liverpool academy and the Real Salt Lake academy are similar because the players are very skillful. There was a lot of skill on my old team and it prepared me really well for Liverpool.

"There's major differences as to speed of play — it's much faster here in England. The physicality is much better and I've kind of got used to it since I've been here and I feel like I've developed as a player, especially on the physicality side."

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani