Liverpool have a whole host of exciting young players currently working their way through the ranks at Anfield, and reports in Spain today suggest the Reds may be on the verge of bringing another potential star of the future to the club's academy.
According to a journalist on 'The First Touch' show, which aired on Spanish radio station 'Onda Cero' last night, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fulham are interested in signing Athletic Bilbao youngster Unai Lopez, with all three prepared to meet his €1m buyout clause.
* 17 years old.
* Right-sided attacking midfielder.
* 2011: Turned down a move to Barcelona. At the time, he explained:
"I got several offers and decided to go to the Athletic. I liked Barcelona's offer, but it scared me a little go so far from my family".
* Featured in the 2012-13 NextGen tournament for Bilbao, and played against Arsenal.
* 9 goals in 22 games for Bilbao's youth team last season.
It's hardly surprising that Manchester City are interested; the club's Director of Football Txiki Begiristain spearheaded the move for Lopez during his time at Barcelona, so he obviously rates the youngster highly.
Liverpool arguably need more attacking options on the right-side of midfield, but if Lopez baulked at joining Barca due to being so far away from his family, then it seems unlikely he'll move to a different country at the age of 17 (!)
Having said that, Lopez was only 15 at the time, so it's understandable that he wouldn't want to leave his family. He's a bit older now, so things may have changed.
Jaimie Kanwar
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According to a journalist on 'The First Touch' show, which aired on Spanish radio station 'Onda Cero' last night, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fulham are interested in signing Athletic Bilbao youngster Unai Lopez, with all three prepared to meet his €1m buyout clause.
* 17 years old.
* Right-sided attacking midfielder.
* 2011: Turned down a move to Barcelona. At the time, he explained:
"I got several offers and decided to go to the Athletic. I liked Barcelona's offer, but it scared me a little go so far from my family".
* Featured in the 2012-13 NextGen tournament for Bilbao, and played against Arsenal.
* 9 goals in 22 games for Bilbao's youth team last season.
It's hardly surprising that Manchester City are interested; the club's Director of Football Txiki Begiristain spearheaded the move for Lopez during his time at Barcelona, so he obviously rates the youngster highly.
Liverpool arguably need more attacking options on the right-side of midfield, but if Lopez baulked at joining Barca due to being so far away from his family, then it seems unlikely he'll move to a different country at the age of 17 (!)
Having said that, Lopez was only 15 at the time, so it's understandable that he wouldn't want to leave his family. He's a bit older now, so things may have changed.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
lol they are getting younger
ReplyDeletewhy not? 1m isnt much! wellcome on board young boy!
ReplyDelete1million here two there they soon build up then they are the wages ,also accomadation costs before you know it ,it soon adds up to big bucks
ReplyDeleteCarr do you ever have anything positive to say about Liverpool? You moan when we sign players you moan when we don't.
ReplyDelete17 years old you say? straight into the first team i reckon
ReplyDeletehahahha :)
ReplyDeleteyoure right nothing is cheap nowadays
ReplyDeletethe second we sign the armenian or eriksen he will be happy ;)
ReplyDeleteYou have to be 18 years old to sign a professional contract in Spain, so i doubt they'd make that kind of mistake over the radio.
ReplyDeleteoff topic : congrat to borini, he score a vital goal for his country !
ReplyDeleteFor about 5 minutes then he be off again ;)
ReplyDeleteNice finish too, and lovely turn to make space for himself, next season hopefully hits the ground running :-)
ReplyDeleteis this a player hes a young lad get a grip
ReplyDeletesnipe snipe snipe 3 days on the trot no wonder i never reply to your posts
ReplyDeleteHardly a snipe lol, it's a fact, IF we do sign mkhitarian you be happy for abit then You will either slate FSG or Allen lol :-)
ReplyDeleteMignolet-yes good keeper and young, Aspas-yes he fighter and has a nice left foot and can create chances, Toure-coupe of a signing for a free&experience, Luis Alberto-Young,intelligent,knows a pass,and can score-yes excited to see him play too. Mhiktaryan-YES!, Rodgers knows a talent since we put our transfer team together they've done well.
ReplyDeletei will not slate allen because he should be nowhere near the starting 11 come the start of the season and if he his,and the results go against rodgers ,he deserves the sack
ReplyDeletem8 we should be the best team in the world because according to you every player we have is world class lol
ReplyDeleteDid I say world class? I said GOOD, not world class, don't twist my words. :-)
ReplyDeleteLol Allen does deserves his chance, he young done well for us to start with. You will eat your words that's all I'm saying, Rodgers has been the best manager out of our last two managers lol :-)
ReplyDeletechips are
ReplyDeleteIt ain't much so why not.
ReplyDeleteYou asked for positive signings. He gave you positive signings.
ReplyDeleteAnd nobody has been sold yet, the only one who might be going against our wishes is Suarez...
Not anymore. £2.40 here in surrey for a portion of chips. :-(.
ReplyDeleteUnai Lopez played with my son in Antiguoko, in San Sebastián. As you may know, that's the youth team that produced Xabi Alonso (and Arteta). I've been watching him since he was 11. Atlético Madrid tried to sign him when he was 10. He's always been fantastic. I always said he'd play for a top club. You'd better move now, or Wenger will get him. He's an 'Arsenal type' - similar to Cesc (but better). He's got the lot. Athletic stole him from Real Soc after one season. Antiguoko feed Real Soc, not Bilbao.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem might be his reluctance to travel.
Best
Phil Ball (ESPN)
Hi Phil - thanks for the info :-)
ReplyDelete