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Liverpool Transfer News: 'Young Zlatan Ibrahimovic' Gianluca Scamacca Targeted
December 18, 2014
Liverpool have reportedly offered Roma youngster Gianluca Scamacca £135,000 per year to leave the Stadio Olimpico.
Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard reports that "Liverpool, Southampton and PSV Eindhoven are prepared to offer a salary his current club cannot." He is outlined as a "young Zlatan Ibrahimovic" and could be brought in to bolster the Reds' attacking options for the future.
Goal Italia tweeted a photo of Scamacca:
Scamacca turns 16 on Jan. 1, according to UEFA's official website, meaning Liverpool could offer him a lucrative senior contract when 2015 begins. He is listed as having scored one goal in three appearances for the under-17 national side, a goal which came in October's win over Armenia.
The centre-forward is notable for his size—he already stands the better part of 6'4" according to Transfermarkt.com—and confident finishing ability. Both are highlighted below:
Scamacca has scored 30 goals in 34 appearances for Roma's youth team, as reported by Simon Jones of the Daily Mail. As such, Rudi Garcia is planning to offer him a three-year deal when his birthday passes.
Liverpool have proven open to teenage options in recent times. Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard recently spent time training with the club ahead of turning 16 on Wednesday.
"The world knows Martin is a talent," Brendan Rodgers said, per talkSPORT. "But he is not a Liverpool player, so I won't speak on him."
Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are among those reportedly scouting the creative player, per Joe Ridge of the Mail Online. A similar scramble is likely to ensue for Scamacca's signature.
Rodgers has proven open to providing youth with responsibility. Scamacca may be attracted by a manager who isn't afraid to chuck developing talents into difficult games, and as we've seen with Raheem Sterling, build a team around them.
Sterling can now be considered Liverpool's most important offensive player (while Daniel Sturridge remains injured). A little over a year ago, the 20-year-old's talent started to push Rodgers' men up the Premier League table. He is now something of a leader; if Sterling plays well, Liverpool generally get a positive result.
Rodgers has opted for strikers who can hold the ball up and bring others into play this season. Both Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert are capable of spreading possession, but they lack the incisiveness to make a defence-splitting run, providing Liverpool's midfield with little passing option other than Sterling.
Perhaps Scamacca could be fine-tuned into the type of player who utilises his size properly. He'll likely bulk up in the years ahead and could offer his club the kind of dominant physical style that isn't common in Italian strikers right now.
He would be perfect for the Premier League and quite possibly Liverpool if this comes to fruition.