Liverpool will be watching ‘powerful’ Atalanta player closely, they’re apparently trying to sign him

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Liverpool have been drawn against Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Having beaten Sparta Prague 11-2 in the last-16, Liverpool remain heavy favourites to lift the trophy in Dublin. After drawing the team currently sitting sixth in Serie A, they’ll back themselves to get through.

Nevertheless, Atalanta are no mugs. Liverpool know that very well, having been beaten by La Dea in the Champions League group stage at Anfield in 2020. That was a poor Reds team who were already looking likely to top the group, but it will stick in Jurgen Klopp’s memory nonetheless.

Liverpool are obviously a different beast to the team that lost 2-0 that day. And Atalanta have moved on, too. No longer with modern-era legends Josip Ilicic and Papu Gomez, Gian Piero Gasperini has some new stars to call upon.

Chief among them is a player who the Reds will no doubt be watching very closely when the teams meet next month. Box-to-box midfielder Ederson is rumoured to be a target for them ahead of the summer window.

Having established himself with Atalanta over the past two years, the 24-year-old looks primed for a move. Liverpool will have a front row seat to judge whether or not he’s the right player for them.

Ederson ready for Liverpool audition

Of course, Atalanta do have another player who Liverpool have been copiously linked with over recent times. However, now 26, we don’t think Teun Koopmeiners is a player who will fit in with Michael Edwards’ philosophy for new signings.

18 months younger than the Dutchman though, Ederson might. Just like his namesake at Manchester City, the former Corinthians player is a Brazilian.

Having moved from Brazil to Italy in 2022, Ederson has been doing well ever since. Atalanta is the kind of club you can imagine Edwards targeting for data-led signings, given that they’re a good team but not a top team.

Liverpool’s new CEO of football was always keen on bringing in players who have room to go up another level or two. Ederson would fit that, too.

In terms of playing style, there are question marks over whether he is what Liverpool need, though. Reading quotes from his former manager at Corinthians, Tiago Nunes – who spoke to Sky Sports – Ederson doesn’t sound like a player the Reds’ squad is crying out for.

“He is a box-to-box player with the energy to keep going back and forth all the time,” Nunes explained. “My first impressions were of a player with a lot of strength, a lot of physical ability, a player who was a powerful striker on the ball, with good technique. Basically, someone with characteristics that are difficult to find, especially in Brazilian football.”

Of course, every team could do with a midfielder with these attributes. But Liverpool already have Dominik Szoboszlai, maybe there’s no room for Ederson.

Regardless, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Reds will be running the rule over the Brazil U20 international over the two games in April.