‘Extraordinary’ Serie A wonderkid Tommaso Baldanzi admits he dreams of playing under Jurgen Klopp in a potential a transfer boost for Premier League giants Liverpool, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
With four goals in just eight league starts this season, it seems only a matter of time before 19-year-old Baldanzi finds himself in the crosshairs of Europe’s biggest and most deep-pocketed clubs.
Liverpool, for instance, are scouring the market for players capable of replenishing their ageing, creaking midfield. And, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez likely to cost in excess of £100 million, the Merseyside giants may be forced to cast their net a little wider in pursuit of more affordable additions.
Baldanzi’s supreme self-confidence, eye-catching technical ability and prolific goals-to-minutes ratio is unlikely to go under the radar for long, either. Especially with the Italy U19 international expressing his admiration for the man patrolling the Anfield touchline with a toothy grin and trademark headwear.
Tommaso Baldanzi is making a huge impact in Italy
“I didn’t expect to start so strong in my first year in Serie A,” says Baldanzi, while committing his immediate future to Empoli.
“I’m happy because it was a really good start. But now there’s a second part, where we have to continue to do well, both for Empoli and for myself.
“I would like one day to be coached by Klopp. He’s a very strong coach on a world level, but I’m not thinking about it now. I have to keep working and improving, then we’ll see what happens.
“It will remain a dream because we are at too high a level. It’s already nice to play and grow in my home.”
Baldanzi scored a dramatic second-half winner during Empoli’s shock 1-0 win at Inter Milan last weekend; slotting home coolly from the edge of the penalty area. That’s three goals in his last six Serie A games now for the teenager.
“We are talking about an extraordinary talent,” Empoli coach Paolo Zanetti tells TMW. “He’s got a great talent. He played at San Siro and made my heart race.
“He has the courage to play, he does it at San Siro as if it were his home pitch. This bravado means he is attractive for the big clubs.
“(Baldanzi) knows how to handle pressure. He needs to improve in numbers, he can produce a few more assists. But I think it’s part of his growth path.”
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