Liverpool eye up Red Bull Salzburg's Szoboszlai

Liverpool are eyeing up £26 million Red Bull Salzburg prospect Dominik Szoboszlai, report Tuttosport.

This comes only a number of months after Jurgen Klopp signed Takumi Minamino from the same club.

Like Minamino, Szoboszlai played both games for Salzburg against Liverpool in the Champions League group stage this season. While not as impressive as the Japanese star, he showed numerous flashes of his remarkable talent.

The Anfield outfit are also strongly linked with Timo Werner, who plays for Salzburg's sister club, RB Leipzig.

Prospect

Szoboszlai has received minutes in central midfield, the number 10 role and on both wings this season.

He is predominantly an attacking player, but WhoScored note that he made 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game in the Champions League this season. He looks set to settle in the centre of midfield.

Szoboszlai is a fantastic dribbler, with excellent close control and a good burst of pace. He has outstanding vision, often picking the right pass at the right time. He is also capable of a good freekick and doesn't shy away from the physical side of things, using his 6 foot 1-inch frame to decent effect.

The 19-year-old already has eight caps for Hungary, which is a very promising sign. He does not turn 20 until October.

He has two goals and four assists in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, a steady return for such a young player.

The 2018/19 season was his breakout campaign. He joined up with the Salzburg side in January and went on the make 16 appearances. He scored three goals and assisted four.

A Liverpool-style signing

Szoboszlai is certainly the type of player Klopp and Michael Edwards look out for.

The Red Bull group are famed for their scouting network under Ralf Rangnick.

In short, if Rangnick thinks a player is good, he probably is. The likes of Werner, Erling Haaland and Dayot Upamecano are set to become household names, if not already.

Liverpool already have three Red Bull products in their ranks - Minamino, Naby Keita and of course, Sadio Mane. It is clear that Klopp shares Rangnick's view on talent.

Szoboszlai could be next on the list.

With Adam Lallana set to leave, there is an opening for a midfield place in the squad. Even with the emerging Curtis Jones, there is still room for a teenage midfield signing.

The reason being the ages of the rest of the current crop.

Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum are 29. James Milner is 34. Szoboszlai could come in and cover both the centre and wings for now, before settling in the box-to-box role for years to come.

If Jurgen Klopp wants to future-proof his midfield for the next 5-10 years, Dominik Szoboszlai is where to look.