19-year-old reported Liverpool target will definitely leave his club soon

Add as preferred source on Google

As the January window begins to heat up, one reported Liverpool target looks set to be on the move.

The Reds have been linked with adding players to their squad in a number of positions this month. Owing to the injuries to Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, a new left-back could reportedly be on the agenda.

With that in mind, one of the players mentioned has been Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco. As an exciting prospect at Boca, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has already given his stamp of approval to Barco.

And according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 19-year-old could well tread Mac Allister’s footsteps from Argentina straight to Brighton. Taking to X this evening, Romano reports that while the decision has been made that Barco will leave Boca, Brighton are in pole position.

“Valentin Barco will leave Boca Juniors. Decision made — while Brighton keep talking to Boca on deal structure,” says the transfer expert.

“If deal is not agreed between the two clubs early next week, Brighton will be ready to activate release clause. BHAFC, confident to get it done soon.”

Brighton winning Barco race

If Liverpool really were in the market for a left-back, then Barco would look like the perfect fit.

Young enough to be at the club for a decade or more, the Argentinian would be able to play understudy for a few years before taking over first-choice in the future.

He looks to have the quality to make it to the top and would seemingly be relatively cheap, too.

Nevertheless, Liverpool fans hoping for Barco shouldn’t be too dissuaded by a potential move to Brighton. Should the teenager join the Seagulls and do well, he’ll be on the agenda of the top Premier League sides in the future.

Mac Allister has already shown that that route is a good one for both player and club. Had Alexis joined Liverpool straight from Argentinos Juniors in 2019, he’d have surely failed to make an impact.

Given his age and the presence of Robertson and Tsimikas, you’d worry that the same would happen to Barco.

But in two or three years, when both Liverpool left-backs are into their thirties, the Boca Juniors defender could be an option.

Of course, we’d still prefer to see Barco brought in now. However, there’s no use stock-piling players who aren’t going to play. We’re not Chelsea. The youngster might not be on his way to Liverpool right now but he’s certainly a name to keep in mind once he inevitably winds up at the Amex.