Deadline approaching for Richard Hughes to sign £29m "Greek Messi"

Liverpool have been credited with interest for quite some time for Konstantinos Karetsas.

The Genk prodigy looks set to move on for pastures new this summer - with the Belgian league now struggling to contain his talents.

An elegant, left-footed attacking midfielder the Greece international has already been likened to a certain Lionel Messi for his particular footballing characteristics.

But Richard Hughes is going to have to move fast in order to land the Genk crown jewel - as Borussia Dortmund are now thought to be favourites.

Dortmund move into pole position for Karetsas deal

That’s according to a new report in TEAMtalk - which claims BVB are seen as the ideal next club for Karetsas.

Nonetheless a whole host of top European and Premier League clubs - Liverpool included - have not yet given up the chase for the £29m-rated talent.

“Borussia Dortmund are moving into pole position to sign Greece sensation Konstantinos Karetsas ahead of the likes of Chelsea, after stepping up talks with both the player’s representatives and Genk,” the report reads.

“The Belgian club have already rejected Dortmund’s opening offer of €26million, with Genk holding out for a fee in the region of €35million for one of Europe’s brightest young attacking talents.”

Liverpool informed of Karetsas developments

Karetsas is attracting a huge amount of transfer interest this transfer window - with Serie A sides as well as teams in England continuing to hope for a chance to sign him.

“AC Milan have opened talks over a possible deal, while Atalanta have also registered their interest through initial enquiries,” the report reads.

“Liverpool, Brighton, Everton and City Football Group have all been kept informed of the latest developments, with each continuing to monitor the situation."

Chelsea and Leeds are also mentioned as potentially being interested but the BlueCo plan of sending him on loan to Strasbourg is not believed to appeal.

“The Greece international believes Dortmund represents the ideal environment to continue his development, following in the footsteps of numerous young stars who have flourished at Signal Iduna Park before becoming global names,” the report reads.

Konstantinos Karetsas: Situation summary

Konstantinos Karetsas is an 18-year-old Greek attacking midfielder at KRC Genk, under contract until June 2029 after a recent extension that gives the Belgian club strong leverage in negotiations.

A Genk academy product with a spell at Anderlecht, he has already broken into senior football and the Greece setup, drawing high-level interest across Europe.

On the pitch he operates primarily as an advanced playmaker, drifting between the lines or off the flank, with a low centre of gravity, sharp agility and futsal-like close control in tight spaces.

Left-footed but comfortable on his right, he couples inventive dribbling and body feints with vision to play killer passes, dangerous set pieces and occasional spectacular long-range efforts, earning stylistic comparisons to Ødegaard and a “Greek Messi” tag.

Genk value him around €40–45m and, with a deal to 2029, are in no rush to sell, but expect serious proposals in the current window from England, Germany, Spain and Ligue 1.

Arsenal have pushed hardest so far, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, Dortmund, PSG and Brighton all monitoring him, making a move to a possession-heavy, attack-focused club his most plausible next step.