Liverpool should reignite their interest in Chukwueze after Moreno compares him to current Reds superstar

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Premier League leaders Liverpool have been linked with Villarreal’s La Liga starlet Samuel Chukwueze for some time now.

With that explosive turn of pace, that fearless flair and a penchant for cutting inside onto his trusty left foot before thumping a laser-guided rocket into the corner of the net, it is no surprise that Samuel Chukwueze continues to be labelled Nigeria’s answer to Arjen Robben.

But the rising star of La Liga more closely resembles one of Liverpool’s Champions League winning stars, at least in the eyes of former Anfield left-back and current Villarreal team-mate Alberto Moreno.

“He’s very good, very good,” Moreno told Marca. “He’s strong too, young, and defined.

“He’s a lot like Sadio Mane. I’ve seen the two in training and they’re very similar.”

Chukwueze, at just 20, has a long way to go before he can match the achievements of Liverpool’s number 10. While Mane is a genuine dark horse for the Ballon D’Or, the Villarreal wonderkid is fighting Kai Havertz, Matthijs de Ligt and co to lift the Kopa Trophy instead with his whole career ahead of him.

But given that Liverpool are the masters of unearthing rough diamonds and turning them into world class performers, see Mo Salah, Andy Robertson, Roberto Firmino and Mane himself, it should be no surprise to learn that Chukwueze has been on their radar for some time.

The Mail reported earlier this year in April that the one-time Arsenal trialist is a target, despite a £54 million release clause in his contract. The rumours emerged after Chukwueze scored 10 times in his debut La Liga season with a dazzling display in a 4-4 draw against Barcelona still fresh in the memory. He’s started the new campaign with four goals and assists in eight matches.

And if he’s anything like Mane, who was still playing in the French second tier at Chukwueze’s age, he has the raw potential to become one of the most explosive goalscoring forwards anywhere in Europe.

Liverpool could do a lot worse than to drop Moreno a line should they make a move for Chukwueze next year. And they will surely receive a glowing reference of a player who could one day look a snip even at £54 million.