Liverpool have joined the race to sign Boca Junior defender Valentin Barco, according to the Express.
The 19-year-old has been in excellent form in recent months, attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
Liverpool will hope that links with Argentine Alexis McAllister in the summer will give them confidence in negotiating a deal for the youngster.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are in need of reinforcements at left-back after Andrew Robertson picked up an injury during the international break. Thus, Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas is the only viable option on the left flank.
Barco’s contract with Boca Juniors expires in December 2024 and TeamTalk have revealed that Barco’s contract includes a €10 million release clause.
Any advice on how to make a big change? Barco emerged as a household name in La Liga at the age of 19, making 33 appearances for Boca Juniors, including in the Copa Libertadores final defeat to Fluminense.
The teenager has received rave reviews from Argentina’s Under-20 side, coached by former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.
He has proven his versatility playing in central midfield and central midfield this season. Like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Barco is a perfect fit for any role in the team.
Barco stands out among aggressive defenders with real defensive ability. His outstanding playmaking skills include his ability to intercept passes on the wing and he also shows impressive movement in the defensive zone.
Barco, in particular, excels at launch, demonstrating its willingness to attempt final courses with precision. In addition to his defensive skills, Barco also shows deep passing ability with his passing ability.
He shows his ability as a ball carrier who uses the channel with skill and beats his opponents with ease.
His crossing may need improvement and he may not be the type of defender to put the ball directly into the box, but he seems to be a perfect fit for Klopp’s style of football where the defenders play a key role.
