Liverpool target €30m midfielder with no top-flight experience

FT Desk

• 5 Nov 2022 19:02 GMT
• 5 min read

Liverpool are looking far and wide for alternatives in case Jude Bellingham decides to join Real Madrid or Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund next summer…

Liverpool have an obvious need to address their midfield. Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all struggled with injury this season, while Jordan Henderson and James Milner are 32 and 36 respectively.

Bellingham was identified as their first-choice in the position, and the loan acquisition of Arthur Melo from Juventus in the summer was widely taken as evidence that they had a more permanent move for Bellingham lined up.

READ: Who is Alberto Moleiro? The Las Palmas wonderkid wanted by Barca

But Liverpool's problem is that the 19-year-old's reputation has exploded at the same rate as their season has imploded, and now Real and Man City have entered the fray for the nascent England star's signature.

Step forward Alberto Moleiro. A Spain under-21 international who is still just 19, the Tenerife-born midfielder turns out for Las Palmas, having made the short journey to Gran Canaria to join them in 2018.

While Real Madrid, Barcelona and Dortmund - looking for a Bellingham alternative themselves - have all been credited with an interest, the Reds have joined the race.

READ: Dortmund ready to break the bank to keep Jude Bellingham

"The fourth team in contention for the teenager's signature is Liverpool," report AS. "He has impressed the Premier League club's scouts and is a player that Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp thinks highly of."

How good is Moleiro?

Moleiro has drawn comparisons with fellow Las Palmas academy graduate Pedri, who now lights up the Camp Nou with Barcelona, owing to his low centre-of gravity but surprising physical power.

He has already racked up 55 games in all competitions with his club, who haven't played in the top flight since the 2017/18 season, the year before he joined.

There is a suspicion he could add greater attacking edge to his game with three goals and four assists to his name so far, but at 19, there would be plenty of time for Klopp to coach that into him.