After being impressed by his performances at the South American Under-20 Championship, Colombian defender Kevin Mantilla is said to have started the first round of negotiations with Liverpool. This rumor is based on a Football Insider report.
This season’s struggles have made it clear that Liverpool needs to quickly retool their team. They are notable for being ninth in the Premier League standings, nine points behind the leaders. The Merseyside club has long identified the midfield as a major weakness.
It is anticipated that Jurgen Klopp’s team will make significant investments to strengthen the position, with Jude Bellingham reportedly being their primary target. However, the Reds are also looking into ways to improve other aspects of their team.
At the conclusion of the season, they might also look to strengthen their central defense. It is important to note that Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk are both past their 30s. Joe Gomez’s recent performances have been disappointing, and he has certainly struggled with injuries.
According to the aforementioned source, Colombian under-20 international Mantilla has thus emerged as a Liverpool target. They have already met with the player to talk about a possible move to Anfield. After performing admirably at the recently concluded South American Under-20 Championship, Mantilla was added to the Premier League giants’ wish list.
During the tournament, he was reportedly followed by Reds scouts. The defender’s abilities have been noticed by other English top-flight clubs in addition to Liverpool. But Klopp’s team is already trying to get ahead of their rivals by starting talks about a summer transfer.
Top clubs have turned to South America to sign young players as a result of Brexit regulations. One group that has realized the significance of bringing in players from Europe is the Anfield outfit.
Which team does Kevin Mantilla, who has been linked to Liverpool, play for?
Mantilla plays club football for Independiente Santa Fe, but he also represents Colombia’s Under-20 team on the international stage. He made his senior debut for them last year after rising through the club’s youth ranks. The club has used the central defender in 25 games across all competitions.
According to Transfermarkt, he helped the team keep seven clean sheets in those games. Mantilla is best known as a center-back, but he can also play full-back. Due to his versatility, the Under-20 international for Colombia is a tempting target for a number of clubs. Liverpool is on this list, and they seem eager to lure him to Merseyside this summer.