With Liverpool only signing Ibrahima Konate during the previous summer transfer window, it seems as though the Merseyside club have their eye on signing another young talent from another of Europe's big clubs in the near future.

What's the news?

It has recently been reported by El Nacional (via Liverpool.com) that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde and that the Merseyside club could be interested in making a transfer move for the player in the future.

After working his way through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, Valverde eventually made his senior debut for the club back in October 2018 during a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

Since then, the 23-year-old, who is currently valued at £58.5m according to Transfermarkt, making him their second most valuable player, has made a total of 114 appearances for the Spanish club across all competitions, chipping in with five goals and seven assists in the process.

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So far this season, Valverde, who has been described as a "phenomenal" player by teammate Casemiro in the past, has made 12 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side across La Liga and the Champions League, predominantly playing as a central-midfielder but also as a right-midfielder and right-back on occasion, highlighting his versatility.

This is why he could prove himself to be a perfect heir for current Reds midfielder James Milner given the Englishman's advanced age and the fact that he's played in almost every position across the midfield and defence during his time at Liverpool.

Additionally, with Valverde racking up an average of 1.7 tackles per game in La Liga this season, this could make him a good defensive replacement for Milner who has an average of two tackles per game in the Premier League in his latest campaign with the Reds.

However, with Valverde's current contract not set to expire until the summer of 2027, and the fact that fellow Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are both over the age of 30, it seems as though the club see Valverde as a long-term player for them and may not be interested in selling the player, which could make it a difficult deal to secure for Liverpool if they are interested in making a move for him.

Although, it still would be worth exploring the possibility of signing Valverde this summer, especially if Milner ends up leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of June.

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