Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona prodigy Pedri after his breakout season at Camp Nou left Leo Messi ‘enormously impressed.’
It’s no secret that Jurgen Klopp wants to sign a new midfielder this summer but Pedri has to be the most interesting name linked with the Reds so far and unfortunately, it’s the least likely to happen for a number of reasons.
What is the talk about Pedri?
The Spaniard, still only 18 years old, was amazing for Barcelona this season and developed a near-telepathic relationship with Lionel Messi. BBC Sport says that the football icon has been ‘enormously impressed’ by Pedri.
BILBAO, SPAIN – JANUARY 6: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates 1-2 with Pedri of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Athletic de Bilbao v FC Barcelona at the Estadio San Mames on January 6, 2021 in Bilbao Spain. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Mundo Deportivo, via Daily Star, suggests that Liverpool are interested in signing Pedri this summer and have put him on their list of transfer targets following Gini Wijnaldum’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Klopp will battle to sign the teenager as he allegedly has a £70m release clause but after the Mirror claimed in April that Liverpool spoke to the player’s agents, there is certainly an interest in the player.
What would Pedri offer Liverpool?
Despite his young age, Pedri still managed four goals and six assists in his first full season as a professional footballer. Most significantly, he has displayed a profound understanding of the game and is able to play between the lines with amazing comfort.
An issue a lot of young players struggle with is stage fright and through a fear of making mistakes, they don’t play with the freedom required but Pedri plays with a maturity that belies his age.
HUESCA, SPAIN – JANUARY 03: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Pedro ‘Pedri’ Gonzalez of FC Barcelona warms up prior the La Liga Santander match between SD Huesca and FC Barcelona at Estadio El Alcoraz on January 03, 2021 in Huesca, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
He’s certainly a type of player that Liverpool don’t have. While Thiago Alacantara is gifted, he is more of a deep-lying playmaker or a classic number 8 but Pedri is an attacking midfielder that just loves to link play together.
Pedri’s presence in the Barcelona side is such that it allows Lionel Messi to get closer to goal so that his finishing and goalscoring ability isn’t wasted in a deeper role.
£70m is just too much for a teenager
The report does go on to say that Barcelona want to keep the player and that Pedri wants to stay but even if they wanted to sell and he wanted to leave, £70m is just too much for a teenager.
Liverpool have only ever broken the £70m barrier for one player – Virgil van Dijk. He was 26 when he moved to Anfield but it’s safe to say that Klopp want be spending his whole budget on an 18-year-old that might not start.
