Derby County do not have the option to buy Harry Wilson outright after his loan spell ends, sources have told ESPN FC.
Wilson will return to Liverpool after the 2018-19 season and then make another push for a place in Jurgen Klopp's first-team squad.
The forward was named man of the match in Derby's penalty-shootout victory over Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, scoring a spectacular free kick from long range at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old signed a new contract at Liverpool in the summer before making the season-long switch to Derby. Sources have told ESPN FC that as many as 12 English clubs enquired about the possibility of taking Wilson on loan.
After spending the second half of last season on loan with Hull City, Liverpool believed another spell in the Championship would best serve Wilson's development. Derby, it was felt by Liverpool, were the most suitable club of those interested to prepare him best for a future career at Liverpool.
Wilson, a Wales international, has only made one competitive first-team outing for Liverpool -- a substitute appearance in an FA Cup replay at Plymouth Argyle in 2017 -- but sources say the Merseyside club believe he is right on course in his development. He has been limited to just three league starts for Derby so far this term after battling a groin injury.
"I'm delighted for Harry," Derby boss Frank Lampard said on Tuesday night. "Because Mason [Mount] has been getting the plaudits, rightly so, but Harry I feel sorry for because he's been injured and then had to get fit.
"But in the two games he's come back in, he started at the weekend and was fantastic and then again at Old Trafford. That's not easy to come here with one game in the bank in the last six weeks.
"The free kick was a mixture of quality and hard work. Him and Mason Mount stay out hitting free kicks. I have to call them in sometimes. That's what happens. It doesn't always happen at Old Trafford, so he should certainly enjoy this one."