Liverpool want Neyser Villarreal as ‘world-class’ £2.5m transfer news emerges
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is eyeing an attacking revamp and Neyser Villarreal could be on his shortlist.
The Reds are top of the Premier League with an eight-point margin that could be increased to 11 points if they beat Manchester City (23 February).
However, with uncertainty over Mohamed Salah’s future and concerns with the form of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez, they could overhaul their forward line when the transfer window reopens starting with the Colombian wonderkid.
Liverpool can seal £2.5m Villarreal deal
Liverpool have been linked with a move for right winger Neyser Villarreal, who was the top scorer at the CONMEBOL Under-20 Championship.
A report from the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (page 68, 23 February) claims that the Anfield outfit are one of the clubs tracking the Millionarios star, who is described as having “world-class potential.”
| Stats | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Millionarios | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Colombia U20 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
The Bogota side are trying to tie the 19-year-old down with a new contract after he notched eight goals at the tournament, to fend off interest from the Reds and Newcastle in a £2.5 million “bargain” deal.
Villarreal can become next Liverpool superstar
The L4 outfit have had a knack for turning attacking players into superstars like they did with the likes of Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino.
However, their current options are understood to frustrate Arne Slot, with only the Egyptian and Cody Gakpo impressing this season despite the Reds sitting pretty at the summit.
Some supporters have urged the club to start shopping directly in the South American market rather than waiting for stars to emerge in Europe and signing them for a much higher fee.
A move for Villarreal would signal a shift in their recruitment policy from sporting director Richard Hughes, one that could be very beneficial and would replicate what Manchester City have done in recent years with Maximo Perrone and Claudio Echeverri.
Whilst those moves are yet to pay off for City directly, they have the potential to be world-class players in the future and picking them up for a reduced fee rather than waiting for them to prove themselves in the European game could prove to be a bargain.
Villarreal is the latest young star to emerge from South America and with his directness and stunning pace, he could be the next superstar to come from the region.