Russia U21 international Viktor Alexandrov admits he ‘dreams’ of a move to the Premier League with Liverpool his number one destination.
Now, Jurgen Klopp’s side may have a habit of signing players who arrive at Anfield on the verge of the very top level – Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk and co blossoming into truly world-leading talent on Merseyside, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai hoping to do the same – but Viktor Alexandrov is not quite there yet.
The 21-year-old centre-half currently plies his trade for FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod in Russia’s top flight.
And while catching the eye for all the right reasons of late, Alexandrov still has a long way to go before his Liverpool ‘dream’ can become a reality.
“My dream is to go to England,” the 6ft 3ins colossus tells Sport 24, confirming that he is indeed a dyed-in-the-wool Liverpool supporter.
“My godfather is a football fan. He supported Spartak and Liverpool. I have always been somehow closer to the British (team).”
Viktor Alexandrov wants to play for Liverpool
The likelihood is, if Alexandrov is to end up at Anfield, he’ll first have to take an ‘intermediate’ step. Perhaps to a club in the Dutch Eredivisie or the Austrian Bundesliga.
“100 per cent (I want to move to Western Europe),” Alexandrov adds. “But not in the league of the level of Latvia, with all due respect.
“I would like to go to Belgium, Holland or Austria. It doesn’t matter (which). There, the level is excellent.”
Alexandrov, who admits to shedding a tear when Liverpool lost to Sevilla in the 2016 UEFA Europa League final, joined Pari NN from FC Rubin Kazan. He has been capped three times by Russia at Under 21 level.
And the rapid rise of former Kazan team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – now a Scudetto winner at Napoli – should be act as something of an inspiration for a player hoping to follow in his footsteps.
“(Kvaratskhelia is) such a talent,” Alexandrov adds. “Khvicha is still young. He will progress, and everything will be fine with him.
“(He is a) top star, 100 per cent.”
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