Reigning champions Liverpool are one of five Premier League sides battling it out for Greek teenage sensation Konstantinos Karetsas.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has risen to international level in the past 18 months and is attracting interest from the Reds, as well as four of their top-flight rivals.
The Belgian-born player has made over 50 appearances for Genk’s first team in the Pro League and made his Greece debut this year, leading to several English top-flight sides watching him recently, as reported by journalist Alan Nixon.
Liverpool join rivals in watching Greek wonderkid
Arne Slot’s team were one of many who were in attendance at Genk’s recent Europa League match at Scottish side Rangers to see Karetsas on the pitch.
And, although he only featured for a matter of minutes off the bench, his stock has risen high enough this year to command a minimum fee of £20 million.
After making his debut for Jong Genk on the opening day of the 2023/24 Belgian second division season, aged 15, he netted six goals in 20 games before making the jump up to the club’s first team just six months later.
Since then, he has scored three goals in 52 games and earned his maiden senior international call-up in March of this year, switching allegiance to his parents’ homeland of Greece after representing Belgium U21s.
He scored in just his second match against Scotland, becoming the country’s youngest ever scorer, as well as the youngest in the Nations League’s history.
His club side’s recent match north of the border pulled in representatives from Everton, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Newcastle United, as well as Liverpool, meaning a fight between them could take place in January’s transfer window.
Ranked amongst top young players in the world
Karetsas’ first season of professional football encouraged fans and journalists so much that he was included in the Guardian’s list of the top 60 young talents in the sport at the start of last season.
The teenager also ranked exceptionally high for the number of fouls won last year, sitting in the 100th percentile of Belgian Pro League players in his position with 3.2 per game, according to Fotmob.
Furthermore, his number of accurate long balls (2.77), chances created (2.66), successful crosses (1.95), and touches (69.06) per game all put him in the top 15% of compatriots.
Although his end product, particularly his finishing, may be short of Premier League level currently, his promise and potential are clear to see, and it would not be a surprise to see him make a move to England within the next 12 months.