EXCLUSIVE: The FULL lowdown on Andrija Maksimovic as Liverpool READY January move

The January window is closely approaching and one player who could be on his way to Liverpool is Andrija Maksimovic.

We reported exclusively that the Serbian teenage talent is someone the Reds have identified as a target for the winter window with a deal prepared that would send him back out on loan to Red Star Belgrade until the end of the season.

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Since then, Liverpool scouts have continued to track his progress, even visiting him at the San Siro recently.

Now Anfield Watch has decided to get the full lowdown on Maksimovic by speaking to a Serbian football expert @SerbFootyScout to find out just how good of a fit he might be for the Reds.

What type of player is he? What could Liverpool expect? What is his best position?

SerbFootyScout: Maksimović is a pass-first connector who excels with the freedom to roam, linking play and keeping rhythm. His composure and quick decision-making help him create chances for himself and his teammates in the final third, while his ball-striking adds a goal threat.

Positionally, while he’s versatile, his ideal role is as a central midfielder - an 8 who impacts all three thirds. I often read he's a 10, but he's not, nor is he a wide player. He thrives in arriving in the box from deeper areas, with most of the pitch ahead of him.

He’s been likened to Messi or he has that nickname, where does this come from?

SerbFootyScout: This is one of the main misconceptions about him. People think it’s related to his playing ability, but it was actually a nickname his sister gave him because he had a haircut similar to a young Messi, and it just stuck.

There’s been a lot of Serbian teenage talents over the years, where does he rank among them?

SerbFootyScout: Among the very best. If used in the right role - as there’s already some misprofiling going on at Crvena Zvezda - I can see him becoming one of the best midfield connectors in the world. Think of a player in the mould of Modrić, but slightly more attacking.

Is he ready to move to the Premier League? Or does he need a loan spell first? Baring in mind, he can’t join Liverpool until he turns 18, anyway.

SerbFootyScout: No, although I believe that at 17 he already has many qualities that surpass the Serbian league, the jump to the Prem is still too big. It’s mainly the physical side - he’ll need to mature in that area. His mind is a supercomputer, though, so the pace of the league shouldn’t be an issue for long. I’m confident he’d adjust quickly.

As a Feyenoord fan you know a fair bit about Arne Slot, do you think he would suit his style of play?

SerbFootyScout: Yes, although he’ll need to improve the physical side of his game and add more defensive tools - become more effective in the press, up his work rate, be more consistent with his tracking, and so on.

Arne is a coach who likes to prepare players before throwing them into the deep end, and in that sense, Andrija still has a lot to work on, mainly out of possession. In possession, though, I can see why he’s so appealing to Liverpool - his value is already massive.

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