Liverpool want momentous deal for 16-year-old wonderkid

Liverpool scouts are seemingly very interested in a 16-year-old wonderkid and could strike a momentous deal.

When Michael Edwards returned to work under FSG last year, it was clear the club's strategy would shift. Edwards made it clear that his decision to return was motivated by FSG's plan to build a multi-club system.

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This is because during his previous stint as sporting director, Edwards realised that the best way to develop talent is to sign them early and build them through the system.

Liverpool's scouts often follow players since they are 14 or 15 years old and only end up moving for them when they are ready to make the step-up to Anfield.

At that point, a player normally costs the Reds tens of millions of pounds. But there is a smarter way to do business by signing players at a lot younger age and for a lot less money.

This is what clubs like Brighton and the Red Bull empire have done so well. Brighton often sign players who are not ready for Premier League footballer and send them out on loan to Union SG in Belgium, where they continue their development and are usually often able to kick on to make the leap to Brighton afterwards.

The likes of Kaoru Mitoma, for example, massively benefitted from this model. But someone like Dominik Szoboszlai is also a great example at Red Bull.

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Liverpool now want to build their own pathway and FSG have eyed Malaga CF as a potential destination but the club's scouts are also looking out for potential players to bring into this new system.

Currently, the U17 African Cup of Nations is taking place and there's been plenty of talent on show. Liverpool scouts are of course present at the tournament and it seems one player has caught their attention in particular.

According to Africa Foot, Liverpool scouts have been 'very interested' in Obli Kouame, who has caught the eye for the Ivory Coast.

The 16-year-old is a centre-back who plays in his homeland for FC Mouna and he would only be able to make the move to Anfield when he turns 18-years-old, which isn't until December of next year - so probably the 2027 January transfer window.

So, yes, this is very much one for the future. But it's not impossible that Liverpool make a move for him now. The report claims that the Reds are considering that possibility.

There is a chance Liverpool can strike a pre-agreement with FC Mounae to sign Kouame when he turns 18-years-old and snap him up just like Chelsea did with Kendry Paez for example.

He'd certainly be worth trying to sign based on his performances at the tournament. Kouame is a really athletic right-sided centre-back very much in the mould of Joel Matip.

He oozes confidence on the ball and can play some really nice forward passes. At the same time, he reads the game really well. He's able to assess the danger and intervene at the right moments using his speed and excellent recovery pace.

In his first game at the tournament, he misplaced just two passes from 57 attempts for his country and he was very good at sending progressive passes into the right areas to instigate attacks for the Ivory Coast.

He's very much a player who is always looking to penetrate the lines from the back. More than 51% of his passes at the tournament have been forward passes, averaging 20 per 90 minutes, which is a really high volume for a centre-back.

In total his defensive numbers at the tournament are very impressive, too.

He's won four out of his seven aerial duels in the three matches so far, averaged two interceptions, 13.5 recoveries and 6 defensive duels per 90, winning 80% so far. He's also completed two out of two dribble attempts.

It's easy to see why even based on the numbers Kouame would attract the attention of Liverpool.

He's got everything to be an excellent centre-back in modern football and he very much suits the club's style of play under Arne Slot in his ability to be comfortable on the ball and win a high percentage of duels.

His speed and his reading of the game make him a stand-out among his peers and he's probably been one of the best centre-backs at the tournament so far.

Obviously, Liverpool will have to wait before he can join up with the Reds but it would make sense to bring him in now.

Although, competition is already gathering for his services with Africa Foot's report claiming Barcelona, Marseille and Atalanta also want to sign him.

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So Hughes has to act fast.

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