Liverpool have set their sights on Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, according to Calciomercato.
The Reds are reportedly looking to bolster their defensive ranks amid an uncertain future for Joel Matip.
The Liverpool centre-back’s contract runs until 2024 and there has been speculation the Reds could look to cash in.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate appear to be Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice centre-back pairing going forward.
And last year, Liverpool defender Joe Gomez – a homegrown option – penned a new long-term contract at Anfield.
With all that in mind, Klopp may well look to bring in a high-calibre player who can learn from the likes of Van Dijk.
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool are one of several elite clubs reportedly eyeing Scalvini.
As well as the Reds, the likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, the Milan duo, Juventus, Napoli and Roma are circling.
Interestingly, the Italian outlet suggests that Liverpool could be among the frontrunners for the 19-year-old.
Inter Milan and Juve, the two teams ‘most interested’, both have financial issues, said the report.
Meanwhile, the other three aforementioned Serie A teams may need to sell before being able to buy Scalvini.
‘Bayern, Liverpool and the other top European clubs do not have these problems,’ said Calciomercato.
‘If they decide to swoop, they could take the most promising young defender in Italian football away from Serie A.’
The same outlet reported in January that the teenager carries a €40m (£35m) price tag.
‘Complete, elegant and dominant’
Scalvini is one of the most highly rated young defenders in world football, and he’d be a good shout for Liverpool.
At just 19 years of age, he has already clocked up 48 senior appearances for Atalanta and four Italy caps.
Football Talent Scout posted an in-depth scouting report about him last year.
Jacek Kulig deemed Scalvini a ‘complete, elegant and dominant’ centre-back and likened him to Gerard Pique.
Meanwhile, Breaking the Lines said Scalvini is ‘a burgeoning young talent in defence.
‘Scalvini has an air of Jaap Stam about him, deceptively strong and deceptively sturdy on the ball.’
“He is a player of enormous flexibility and maturity,” former Atalanta coach Bortolo Mutti told TMW.
“He is intelligent and technical, with quality and great physicality.
“Soon we will see him more and more as a protagonist in the national team. These guys are the future of Italy.”
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