Liverpool are “very interested” in signing Mainz winger Brajan Gruda, according to SPORT BILD.
The German magazine claims that the teenager is a target for the Reds, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
Out of the four teams, Bundesliga champions Leverkusen seem to be the club leading the race for Gruda’s signature.
SPORT BILD report that they are “willing to pay” up to €20m (£17m) for the 19-year-old, who has had a breakout season at Mainz.
Gruda racked up 28 appearances in total, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. That is not a bad return considering that he had only played 3 senior games prior to this campaign.
Potential competition for Salah?
One of Gruda’s traits that has likely attracted the attention of Liverpool is the fact that he is a left-footed right winger. That is something which is very rare at the highest level.
While it would be too much pressure to place on Gruda to suggest he is being lined up as Mo Salah’s long-term successor, he does possess very similar qualities.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of wingers
It does appear as if sporting director Richard Hughes, along with recruitment chiefs Barry Hunter and Dave Fallows, are looking to bring in a wide forward.
Gruda is by no means the only winger who has been mentioned as a Reds target in recent weeks. Reports in the Netherlands have credited the club with a strong interest in PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko.
Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville, Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo and Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise have all been linked over the past few weeks too.
At the moment, it is not clear who the Merseyside club’s main target will be but Gruda is clearly in the mix if SPORT BILD are to be believed.
