What do Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk have in common, apart from being gifted in the art of the beautiful game?
They all have Jurgen Klopp to thank for their place among the elite.
The Liverpool and former Borussia Dortmund boss is the undisputed master when it comes to transforming budding youngsters into genuine superstars.
But even Klopp’s remarkable track record was not enough to twist Perr Schuurs’ arm.
According to Voetbal International, Ajax’s newest homegrown superkid was offered the chance to swap Amsterdam for Anfield in 2017.
He turned down the opportunity, however, feeling that his development would be better suited by staying put and learning his trade at arguably European football’s most esteemed finishing school.
Considering Schuurs is now one of the first names on the Ajax team-sheet at the age of just 20, taking Matthijs de Ligt’s place in Erik Ten Hag’s XI, you could argue that he made the right decision three years ago.
Now, Schuurs has another dilemma to deal with.
According to the Mirror, Liverpool are once again casting admiring glances in the direction of the now-£27 million-rated centre-half, having been impressed by Schuurs’ classy performance against them in a 1-0 Champions League victory a few weeks ago.
A penny for Schuurs’ thoughts now, then.
Will he turn down Liverpool for the second time in his young career? Van Dijk and Joe Gomez may be stuck on the treatment table now but, when they return, Schuurs would almost certainly fall immediately down the pecking order.
If you ask those who have watched him closely in the Netherlands, Schuurs still has a lot to learn.
Former Fortuna Sittard coach Kevin Hofland believes the youngster’s physicality and defensive awareness needs some work (Fox). For Rafael Van der Vaart, however, the situation is a little more clear.
“In the Netherlands you can get away with (mistakes),” the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star explained. “He’s just not ready yet.”
Maybe Schuurs would be better off waiting three more years.
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