How Liverpool can BEAT Man Utd to £38m wonderkid

Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25

Liverpool are constantly on the lookout for ways they can improve their team.

Whether that be through selling players or bringing new personnel in, the club can be ruthless when it needs to be.

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Their ruthlessness is in part what has helped Liverpool become the club they are today, and Arne Slot has typified this approach through his assessment of the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.

Wataru Endo was the team's defensive midfielder and his role in the team was quickly overhauled by Ryan Gravenberch. Likewise, Jarell Quansah's involvement in the team was limited when Slot understood that Ibrahima Konate was the best player to partner Virgil van Dijk.

Making such important decisions is paramount to a team's success, and in the transfer market, Liverpool may need to strike while the iron is hot if they are to snatch up one of their transfer targets from a direct competitor.

© IMAGO

Man Utd express interest in Mastantuono

Liverpool have been monitoring River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono over the last few weeks.

The 17-year-old Argentine talent is highly regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the world, having already played 40 games in the Argentinian first division, despite being so early in his professional career.

Earlier this month, it was reported by River Noticias that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs assessing the attacking midfielder, alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid.

His release clause is set at €47m (£38m), which would be a record fee for a player coming out of the Argentinian leagues, and a recent report from TyC Sports claimed that the player is increasingly likely to leave the River Plate this season, meaning the race is on to secure his signature.

Currently, in Liverpool's squad, it is only really Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott who are capable of playing in the No10 role, and at less than £40m for a highly rated young player, Mastantuono might be a gamble worth taking.

However, GIVEMESPORT is now claiming that Liverpool could face competition from one of their direct rivals if they don't act quickly.

Liverpool eye Mastantuono

Manchester United are said to have been watching the player's progress closely, although they are quietly cautious about the prospect of moving for him in January following a slight dip in the player's form.

This would open up the chance for Liverpool to beat them to it if they were to take the plunge in January. Should they wait any longer than that, then the club may well miss out on what is a fantastic opportunity to bring a fresh dynamic into the team.

Liverpool are known for their interest in South American players, for example, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, to name a few in the current squad.

However, the Reds rarely buy a player directly from the continent, they have always had some experience of playing in Europe before making the move.

As much as it would be a risk, the likelihood it would pay off is high, and even if Mastantuono were to struggle, he is still such a young player with an enormous ceiling, that a number of clubs would still be interested in him when he reaches his early 20s, because the potential for him to be a superstar is massive.

We will have to wait and see how Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards proceed, but the club is right in the thick of the action when it comes to scouting the world's biggest talents.

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