Liverpool are interested in a deal to bring Enzo Fernandez to Anfield in the January transfer window.

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Transfer Focus

That's according to a report by Portuguese publication Record (via Sport Witness), who claim that Jurgen Klopp's side are one of a number of clubs keeping a close eye on the SL Benfica central midfielder ahead of launching a potential move for the 21-year-old this winter - with the Reds thought to be one of the teams who 'lead' the pursuit of the youngster's signature.

However, the report goes on to state that the Liga Portugal side have informed all interested parties that, due to the Argentina international being a 'key element' in Roger Schmidt's starting XI, they are 'unavailable to negotiate' Fernandez's departure in the January window - meaning any club wanting to sign the playmaker will have to pay his €120m (£104m) release clause.

The next Zidane

Considering the astonishing amount of ability and potential for future development Fernandez quite clearly possesses, it is not difficult to understand why Liverpool would be interested in a deal to bring the 21-year-old to Anfield this winter - as the Argentine very much appears to be something of a generational talent.

Indeed, over his 13 Liga Portugal appearances this season, the £30m-rated sensation has been in breathtaking form, having already bagged one goal, registered three assists and created a whopping eight big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.0 key passes, taking 2.0 shots and playing 9.8 long balls per game.

The 21-year-old also impresses in metrics more typically associated with his position, making an average of 2.0 tackles, one interception and winning 3.7 duels per match, in addition to enjoying an average of 106.9 touches, playing 5.2 chipped balls and completing 84.8 passes - at a success rate of 90% - per game.

These returns have seen the player who Jacek Kulig dubbed a "superb midfielder" with an "amazing engine" average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.51, not only ranking him as Benfica's joint second-best performer in the league but also as the joint fourth-best player in the top flight of Portuguese football as a whole.

Furthermore, Fernandez has also played a starring role over Argentina's two World Cup fixtures in Qatar so far this winter, scoring a stunning second in his country's 2-0 victory over Mexico last time out and averaging an extremely eye-catching Sofascore match rating of 7.10 - currently ranking the midfielder as Argentina's fourth-best player in the tournament.

Further still, Jose Peseiro has gone as far as to compare the 21-year-old to legendary France midfielder Zinedine Zidane, with the Portuguese coach stating in an interview with A Bola earlier this year that Enzo's "surprising passes and vision" are "similar to those of Zidane, who sometimes solved a play just by the way he received the ball."

As such, while £104m is undoubtedly a huge amount of money to spend on a 21-year-old, Fernandez would appear well worth it, as the Benfica starlet could possess the potential to develop into the next Zidane in the heart of Liverpool's midfield - a prospect that is sure to be an incredibly tantalising one for everyone involved with the Reds, not least Klopp himself.