Liverpool Transfer News: Ruben Neves Approach Reportedly Made, Top Reds Rumours

Liverpool reportedly want to make Porto wonderkid Ruben Neves the highest-paid teenager in world football, with stories suggesting the Reds have made contact with the player’s representatives over a possible transfer.

The 18-year-old is one of the hottest young prospects in the game at the moment, and according to Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror, Liverpool are the first of many illustrious admirers to make their interest known via an “informal approach,” which was apparently “welcomed” by Neves’ entourage. Malyon wrote the Reds have been keeping tabs on him throughout 2015.

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It’s a possible transfer that has also reportedly had the blessing of new manager Jurgen Klopp, who is to have the final say on all ins and outs at Anfield.

Here’s a look at why there is so much excitement when it comes to the midfield maestro, who has previously drawn comparisons with Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets:

It’s a position in which Liverpool could certainly do with an injection of quality. Lucas Leiva is the only orthodox holding midfield player in the Liverpool squad, and for all his attributes, he doesn’t possess the passing ability to dictate the tempo of a game.

Although he’s young, Neves has shown enough to suggest he does already.

As noted here by Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen, in the embryonic stages of his career, Neves has already made massive strides:

To be captaining a side such as Porto so young is a measure of his maturity. Neves is not only a supreme talent, a vocal presence and a natural leader but someone willing to drop deep and show bravery on the ball. It’s an infectious trait that seems to galvanise those around him into upping their own levels.

The Portuguese giants are renowned for getting value for money when it comes to their prized assets, and Neves is a young man who definitely falls into that category.

But if Liverpool were willing to spend big in order to lure him to Anfield, they could have the base of their midfield covered for many years to come.

John Barnes Wants “Special Players” at Liverpool

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Liverpool legendary winger John Barnes has called upon Klopp to get some “special players” through the door at Anfield in order for the Reds to facilitate a title charge in the seasons to come.

Speaking with talkSPORT (h/t James Whaling of the Daily Mirror), Barnes was asked his views on his former club and insisted the newly appointed German will need time to build a team in his own image:

"

Jurgen Klopp is a great manager but we'll have to give him time to create a team. Is this Liverpool team good enough to win the league as it stands? No it's not.

I think it is good enough for the top four, but to win the league we need special players. In the old days managers attracted players, but now salaries attract players.

"

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe took a look at some of the alterations Klopp will make in his first few weeks as Liverpool manager:

Naturally, there have already been plenty of links between Klopp and some of his former Borussia Dortmund squad, including Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan, per Le 10 Sport (h/t Will Giles of Metro).

But one of Klopp’s major assets during his time at the Westfalenstadion was recruiting relatively low-key players and turning them into superstars.

With that in mind, for him to go out and splash the cash on big names would be a peculiar way of approaching his new role.

Liverpool FC 360 is encouraged to see the team linked with players who aren’t necessarily household names:

Still, a dash of quality wouldn’t go amiss for a team that has lost big stars such as Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling in recent seasons.

The Premier League is a different landscape to Klopp’s former Bundesliga hunting ground in terms of finances, and he’ll have surely had reassurances from the club’s owners there will be money to spend.

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However, doing so would be out of character for the German. Everything about Klopp’s management style suggests it’ll take time before he fully imprints himself on this team, especially his bespoke style of play and the care with which he seeks to develop players. Patience, therefore, will be required by the Anfield faithful.