Liverpool have potentially taken another vital step in securing the services of Barcelona midfielder Gavi ahead of next season.
What’s the word?
That’s according to La Porteria (via Forbes), who stated that the La Liga club offered a new contract to the 17-year-old in the region of €2m (£1.7m) per year, which he promptly rejected. The youngster reportedly wants a contract for four seasons, with the salary increasing after every year.
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Liverpool are willing to more than quadruple this offer from the Spanish giants and could pay the player's €50m (£42.5m) release clause now, even though they could land Gavi for free next year.
Jurgen Klopp would love him
Despite Liverpool having one of their best seasons in recent memory, Klopp is still looking at strengthening his squad ahead of another tilt at Premier League and Champions League glory next year.
With the Anfield club in the market for a central midfielder this summer, the interest in Gavi appears to be leading to a potential move.
With Liverpool missing out on one of their main targets in Aurelien Tchouameni, who looks increasingly likely to be joining Real Madrid, Klopp is quickly moving on to other players on his radar.
At just 17, Gavi has already shattered records, recently becoming the youngest-ever scorer for Spain, and he has been described as “spectacular” by his club manager Xavi following a performance against Elche in which he scored his first Barcelona goal.
The midfielder played in 34 La Liga matches last season, scoring twice and registering six assists in what was a breakthrough campaign for the £54m-rated teenager.
The teenage sensation ranks in the top 2% compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area (3.59 per 90) and in the top 6% for dribbles completed (1.56 per 90), illustrating at a young age that his focus is to break forward as much as possible.
He can also be effective in helping his team defensively, as the Spain international made 44 tackles and 573 pressures last season.
Klopp shouldn’t be waiting to get the player next year on a free transfer, as these statistics suggest that Gavi already has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. At £42.5m, it’s a bargain not to be missed; and given the youngster's extraordinary talents at such a young age, the Liverpool manager would surely love to have him alongside Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho as astute teenage swoops.