Liverpool have "asked" about Brazilian wonderkid with £44m release clause

Liverpool have asked for information about 16-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Matheus Reis as a host of Premier League clubs show interest in the teenager.

The Fluminense forward is highly-rated in Brazil and has been named on the bench by Fernando Diniz despite having not yet featured for the recent Copa Libertadores winners.

Reis has made nine appearances for Brazil's U17s, even featuring in the nation's 2023 South American U17 Championship triumph in April. The youngster scored his first and only international goal during his side's 3-0 win over Uruguay at the tournament.

Alongside the likes of Endrick, Vitor Roque and Kendry Paez, 16-year-old Reis is expected to be another product of the South American wonderkid machine.

The forward is on the radar of some of the Premier League's elite clubs, including Liverpool, and the Reds have reportedly asked for information about Reis during conversations with Fluminense regarding Brazilian midfielder Andre Trindade, according to Calciomercato.

Reis is said to have a £44m (€50m) release clause in his current contract and is also attracting interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and some of Spain's most high-profile sides.

Reis, who was born in Mexico and could still represent them at international level, wouldn't be the kind of signing Liverpool have tended to make, the Reds more reluctant than some of their Premier League rivals to dip into the South American market for high potential youngsters.

However, it has proved a successful method for Brighton with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, now at Anfield, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso, while Man City have also brought in the likes of Julian Alvarez and previously Gabriel Jesus from South America early in their careers.

Chelsea have also been keen to tap this particular market since Todd Boehly's arrival, signing Angelo, Deivid Washington and Andrey Santos in recent windows.

However, Liverpool have tended to shop almost exclusively in Europe under Jurgen Klopp. Therefore, Reis would appear an unlikely candidate based on the Reds' general approach in the transfer market.

Anfield Watch understands that Liverpool remain interested in Fluminense's 22-year-old midfielder Andre, while the Reds are also prioritising a central defensive signing in 2024.