Liverpool are set to go head to head with Arsenal for Club Tijuana attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, according to reports in the Mexican media.
National newspaper El Universal claims that the two Premier League clubs “plan to pay” the teenager’s release clause, which is €25m (£21.4m).
Mora caught the eye of scouts at the World Cup, and the Reds were named as one of his suitors in a report by Dutch publication De Telegraaf last week, along with the Gunners, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
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Sources in the UK have yet to verify whether the Merseyside club’s interest in the 17-year-old is serious.
Mora could only join Liverpool in January
The youngster turns 18 in mid-October, and that means an immediate transfer is off the table. Rules stipulate that clubs can’t officially sign players from abroad below the age of 18.
It doesn’t rule out a pre-agreement being reached ahead of a transfer at the start of next year, and it may be the case that both Andoni Iraola‘s side and Arsenal are positioning themselves to win the race now.
Why is there so much interest in Mora?
The teenager is the most promising talent to come through the ranks of Mexican football for many years. He made his senior debut almost two years ago for Club Tijuana at 15 years, 10 months and 5 days.
Mora became the youngest player capped by Mexico’s senior side when he made an appearance in the quarter-final of the Gold Cup against Saudi Arabia last year.
At this summer’s World Cup, the Mexican became the second youngest-ever player to feature in the knockout rounds behind Pele. He started the 2-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 32, and he played the first hour of the 3-2 defeat to England in the last 16 on Sunday.
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