Liverpool Transfer News: Wonderkids Sergio Gomez, Samuel Bastien Reportedly Eyed

Liverpool are interested in signing two of European football's brightest teenage talents, as they pursue Barcelona attacker Sergio Gomez and Anderlecht wonderkid Samuel Bastien.

Luis F. Rojo of Marca (h/t Simon Jones of the MailOnline) claimed the Anfield giants will offer a "blank cheque" for 16-year-old left winger Gomez, who impressed Liverpool in the recent Al Dhafra International tournament in Abu Dhabi when Barca defeated the Reds 4-3 in the final. 

Gomez was voted player of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates, and Liverpool have held a "long-term interest" in the youngster, per Jones. 

The Blaugrana are said to want to hold on to the prodigious talent, but salary limitations in Spain give Liverpool and other Premier League clubs an advantage in tempting Gomez, per Marca (h/t Will Giles of Metro). The Catalans have lost a number of academy players over the years to English clubs, including Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin to Arsenal, and Gerard Pique to Manchester United.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Manager Jurgen Klopp has "stepped up" his interest in the young midfielder Bastien, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t TalkSport). Liverpool has tracked the 19-year-old Belgian sensation since he broke into the Purple and White's first team last season.

Bastien is currently on loan at Serie B side Avellino, and he has played 24 times for the Wolves in the Italian second tier, according to TalkSport. Calciomercato claim Juventus, Roma and Fiorentina will compete with Klopp for the player, but Liverpool lead the race to sign him.

The Belgium under-21 international has been extensively scouted by the Merseyside club, and they're prepared to part with £5.2 million to sign Bastien in the summer, per Calciomercato (h/t TalkSport).

Here is a video of Bastien performing for his loan side:

Klopp has continued to be an advocate of swelling Liverpool's youth talent pool since his arrival in the summer, with academy director Alex Inglethorpe telling James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo the German is invested in youth development.

"He’s a genuine supporter of youth," Inglethorpe said. "You can see that with how he played Connor Randall, Joao Teixeira and Cameron Brannagan against Bournemouth. There’s a genuine desire to play the kids which is what everyone wants to see and hear. You can see that there is an authenticity around how he works."

Gomez and Bastien fit the profile of the type of talent Klopp is looking for, and they would be given time to grow through the youth setup into the first team. 

The Barcelona player will be on many clubs' radars after his performances in Abu Dhabi, and being part of the Blaugrana's youth ranks gives him extra kudos.

Bastien is a developing talent who has shone during his short time in Serie B, and he could be a bargain at the stated price if he steps in the footprints of Belgian football's incredible production line of the past years.