Liverpool are in the hunt to sign Lille teenager Jean-Pierre Longonda, according to Foot Mercato.
The French news outlet claims that Manchester United and Chelsea are also in pursuit of the 17-year-old midfielder, who is yet to be offered his first professional contract by Ligue 1 side Lille.
It is understood that an offer has already been made for the Belgium Under-17 international with an unnamed side from Serie A trying to lure him to Italy despite interest from the Premier League.
OPINION
As Longonda is yet to be offered a professional deal by Lille, it may be worth keeping tabs of his situation and whether or not Liverpool bust a gut to sign him. Liverpool have already shown a willingness to add to their youth ranks this year as they made summer swoops to sign Harvey Elliott and Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, who both played for the Under-23s on Monday night. Longonda is probably one of many young talents in Europe that Michael Edwards and his team of scouts are keeping an eye on but they are clearly not alone with Man United, Chelsea and a team in Italy also keen. Longonda must be a good player. Although he is more of a defensive midfielder, he has scored three goals in his five appearances for Belgium’s Under-17s but is yet to break into the Lille first-team. Lille are not a bad club for young Belgian players who end up heading to England. Eden Hazard is probably someone who fans are very familiar with.
