Reports suggest that Liverpool are now among the clubs in the hunt for Brazilian striker Vitor Roque, who has been catching the attention of European scouts.
Vitor Roque: The next big thing?
The 18-year-old wonderkid has already made an impact in senior football, scoring 14 goals in 52 matches for Athletico Paranaense in the 2021-22 season and earning a call-up to the Brazil U20 side, where he scored six goals in eight games during their South American championship win.
Roque is versatile and can play a number of positions including both flanks, as an attacking midfielder as well as a forward as evidenced at Athletico Paranaense during his stay at the club.
He is good with both feet and can dribble past opponents with ease, so he would be an exciting addition for whoever ends up winning the race for his signature.
Clubs in race for Roque
Since making his debut for the senior Brazil team, Roque is now attracting interest from top clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
Liverpool are now said to be a serious contender for Roque’s signature, with talks reportedly taking place between the player’s camp and the two clubs.
Roque’s versatility and potential to become a world-class goalscorer make him an attractive prospect for Liverpool.
However, Roque’s release clause of around £37m (€42m) may prove a stumbling block for any club looking to secure his services, but with Roque’s representatives already working on an exit, Athletico Paranaense may have to accept a reduced price.
Roque going to Liverpool rather than Arsenal would leave Mikel Arteta furious. The Gunners have put in a lot of work to overtake Barca and put themselves in pole position, but now a big threat has emerged in the form of the Merseysiders.
Despite Barcelona’s FFP position, Liverpool may have to contend with fierce competition from the Spanish giants. Courtesy to Lewandowski’s recent disappointing performance and the lack of a backup striker, Barcelona will be desperate for Roque.
The forward has confirmed he is ready to move to Camp Nou and told Globo Esporte:
“I definitely feel prepared to play in Europe. I work for it. I’m focused on getting there as prepared as possible.”
He has insisted that he wants to join Barcelona and said:
“If ending up going to Barca comes to fruition, it will be a great joy for my family and for me … for this reason, I have to continue working hard and hope that everything will come to fruition over time.”
With the summer transfer window approaching, it’s likely that we’ll see a flurry of activity as clubs look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season.
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