Report: Liverpool summer signing has been trying to persuade defensive midfielder to join the Reds

One player who signed for Liverpool this summer is reportedly attempting to persuade a defensive midfielder on the Reds’ radar to join him at Anfield.

Last month, the Merseyside club confirmed that they’d agreed a deal to sign Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional in his homeland, with the teenager moving to England next year after he’s turned 18.

The youngster is now understood to have taken on some ad-hoc agency duties by trying to convince a friend of his to follow him to L4.

Liverpool scouts watching Matias Orozco

According to information shared on VBar Caracol (via Sport Witness ), Liverpool sent scouts to watch Matias Orozco during Deportivo Cali’s 2-2 draw against Inter de Bogota on Sunday, with the midfielder understood to have played well before being forced off with a minor injury in the second half.

During that livestream, it was claimed that Martinez has been trying to convince the 18-year-old (who’s a close personal friend) to join the Reds.

It seems that he could soon get his wish, as Deportivo Cali manager Rafael Dudamel said that ‘negotiations are advanced’ for Orozco to move to Europe, with journalist Diego Saviola even claiming ( via X ) that the teenager had just played his final game for his current club.

The player himself has sought to quell speculation over an exit from Colombia, but admitted that a Premier League move would be a ‘dream’ for him.

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Orozo is one for the future rather than the here-and-now

There has been a growing clamour for Liverpool to sign a defensive midfielder since they were cut apart in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday, and that is Orozco’s primary position.

However, an 18-year-old who’s played just 28 senior matches (none in European football) shouldn’t be regarded as an immediate solution to one of the Reds’ biggest problems, but rather given the time to develop organically in the academy setup or with a loan move elsewhere to gain experience.

What’s needed at LFC is a robust number 6 option who’s already proven at a high level in Europe and who’d excel at breaking up opposition attacks so that the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have more licence to influence games further up the pitch.

Someone like Mamadou Sangare would’ve been ideal, but Brentford were quickest off the mark to bring him to the Premier League and, just one game into his English top-flight career, he already looks tailor-made for the division.

Orozco may well reach similar heights in future years, and Liverpool clearly see something in him if they’d send scouts to Colombia to keep watch on him, but it’d be asking a lot to burden him with instantly fixing a problem that Richard Hughes should’ve sought to remedy a lot sooner than now.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →