Liverpool competes with Real Madrid for a star worth 41 million pounds, and he is in the “Palmer mould”

the Premier League It was seen in envy as well Cole PalmerS’s career took off to stratospheric heights with Chelseasigning in 2023 after having previously been eliminated Pep Guardiola‘s Manchester City.

Things could have been very different had the four successive English champions retained one of the biggest talents in world football. Liverpool are likely to be embroiled in another grueling title battle with the Invincibles Citizens.

As it happened, the Reds put themselves in the driver’s seat in the 2024/25 title race, while City fell into a major decline. Arnie slotA thriving team, but there is no doubt that improvements can be made at Anfield.

If Liverpool can boast their own version of Palmer, who has surprisingly charged Chelsea this season, he could reach another level of invincibility.

Liverpool transfer news

According to Spanish sourcesLiverpool leads the race for the great River Plate player Franco Mastantuono, despite Real Madrid’s strong presence in the picture as well.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has been riding the crest of a wave in his homeland and has also tempted Arsenal and Chelsea, but it is the Merseyside outfit who are in the driving seat.

The Argentine giants will be looking for €50m (£41m) to part with their prized possession, and while that is a significant figure for an unknown commodity, Liverpool must realize the value of signing one of the biggest talents in South American football.

What will Mastantuno bring to Liverpool

He may only be 17 years old, but Mastantuno has already shown great potential. River Plate is highly regarded around the world for its production line, with both Enzo Fernandez and Julián Alvarez hailing from the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

As an Argentine attacking midfielder, there are obviously comparisons to the great Lionel Messi, but a deeper analytical dive would suggest he is of a different mould.

While it is true that Matantuno’s technical quality is at an elite level, he channels his talents into playmaking methods to the point where he sets himself apart from someone like Messi, who was an unstoppable ball-carrier throughout the early stages of his career, and indeed to the present day. Even with its slow pace.

That’s not to say he doesn’t use his skills in a similar way, as you can see from the stunning free-kick he executed for River Plate earlier in 2024 when he was still just 16 years old.

presence He scored only three goals and three assists Across 41 professional appearances, there is no doubt that he has a lot to work on, but Mastantuno has clearly demonstrated his exemplary style of football in the Premier League.

After all, he is considered to have stylistic similarities to Chelsea’s Palmer, and when considering the notable impact the England international has made since then Joining the Blues in a deal worth £42.5mLiverpool would be wise to complete the move and create their own version.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the best playmakers in world football, and 32-year-old Mohamed Salah has tweaked his game to promote greater creative output as his athletic qualities decline, but Liverpool could certainly do more of that from the middle of the park. The garden.

Palmer, for example, provides this for Chelsea and subsequently, joint second place in the Premier League this season Creating great opportunities (12).

Analysts such as Ben Mattinson have picked up on the similarities between the Three Lions man and the fledgling Mastantuno – who is in the ‘Ulysses/Palmer mould’ – after explaining that he would be the perfect addition to Real Madrid’s star-studded ‘balance’. attacks.

But Liverpool too could benefit from this, with a high-level passing game that may be tailor-made for the slot system – a system designed to last at Anfield.

While the Argentine youth has yet to reach the clinical levels that Palmer has, that doesn’t hurt him. However, looking at the underlying data presents a somewhat strange trend that reveals not only a teenager’s ability to play ball, but also his athletic ability and defensive work rate.

He is a ferocious, combative and determined striker, and this supports the attractive texture of his style with strong nails. The goals and assists will certainly come, but there is actually a suggestion here that Liverpool could get a more versatile and complete version of Palmer.

It’s stylish and beguiling, no doubt, but Mastantuono is also everything you could want in a number ten, and more. Slot Liverpool’s setup requires creativity but it’s also hard work and requires a lot of running and perseverance – just look at Dominik Szoboszlai and his importance, even though he’s not the strongest player in the group.

However, at his core, Mastantuono is one of the most technically gifted gems Talent scout Jacek Kulej He described him as “one of the most enjoyable young men to watch in world football”.

Whether FSG would be willing to play for up to £41m is open to question, but there is no doubt he has a very high ceiling, and wouldn’t it be nice to beat out the likes of Los Blancos for his announced signing?