Liverpool have reportedly beaten a host of Premier League clubs to the signing of England Under-17 international Diego Lattie. The youngster is all set to join the club’s Kirkby Academy after penning a three-year-deal with the Reds.
Manchester United, Everton, Stoke, Sunderland and Aston Villa had shown an interest in the youngster who had been training with City since the age of nine.
After City had decided against offering him a new deal, Liverpool jumped on to the opportunity quickly and signed him up ahead of other interested clubs, without having to pay any compensation fee.
According to reports from the Liverpool Echo, the youngster had been on Liverpool’s radar for sometime now, having played against them in recent years and impressing the scouts in the process.
The highly talented England U-17 defender has already started training with Liverpool’s under-16s squad and will make the step up to Neil Critchley’s under-18s squad in pre-season.
Dortmund confirm interest in Mario Gotze
Liverpool could face a strong competition in their efforts to sign Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze in the summer, with Borussia Dortmund seemingly interested in re-signing their former superstar.
Gotze spent three successful years with Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013 for a reported fee of £32m. But with just one year left on his contract and no extension offers forthcoming, Gotze is all set to leave the German club this summer.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the German international, with Jurgen Klopp thought to be keen on a reunion with his former protégé.
The Reds were believed to be preparing a mega summer bid, but now faces a stiff competition from Dortmund after the German club have confirmed their interest in the 23-year-old.
Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed this week the club have been discussing the possibility of bringing Gotze back, though the German is far from popular at the Westfalenstadion due to his acrimonious exit in 2013.
“If Mario Gotze comes on the market we would discuss it, that’s quite clear,” he told the reporters. “He has been through all the youth teams with us. He is held in the greatest esteem.”
Given an option, Gotze would prefer to continue in Germany and win back the hearts of Dortmund fans, but the lure of reuniting with his former manager and becoming the Reds’ marquee signing ahead of 2016/17 could be too tempting for him to reject outright.
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