Liverpool monitoring young attacker also wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea | OneFootball

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Anfield Index

·18 April 2025

Liverpool monitoring young attacker also wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea

Article image:Liverpool monitoring young attacker also wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea

Report: Liverpool Join Arsenal and Chelsea in Chase for La Liga Teen Talent

Premier League giants scout Real Betis teenager

The transfer market has always been about who moves quickest, not just who has the biggest wallet. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on Real Betis forward Jesús Rodríguez — a 19-year-old tipped for a big future in European football.

“Arsenal are one of the clubs leading the race,” the report notes, but Liverpool and Chelsea have both sent scouts to monitor the Spanish U21 international in recent weeks. For a club like Liverpool, traditionally cautious when it comes to unproven youth from abroad, the interest in Rodriguez marks a shift, possibly one driven by necessity more than ambition.


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Depth concerns emerge under Slot

Arne Slot is stepping into a pressure-cooker environment. The Dutchman inherits a squad that, while talented, has growing question marks in attack. Diogo Jota’s recurring injuries and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Luis Diaz leave holes that need filling. “Liverpool… might also benefit from adding more depth to their front three,” the article rightly observes.

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While Mohamed Salah has signed a new deal, there’s a realisation that succession planning needs to begin in earnest. Rodriguez, while not a ready-made solution, could be part of that conversation.

Betis braced for pressure

Betis are holding firm, at least for now. “Big offers could force their hand, but there have not yet been any talks or offers made for the player,” say Caught Offside. But that kind of phrasing usually comes before the floodgates open.

With Chelsea’s aggressive youth recruitment model and Arsenal’s eyes on long-term squad balance, Liverpool will have to weigh up whether Rodriguez is worth the early investment.

Risk or reward?

Rodriguez is raw. That’s clear. But for a club built on development and a system-based approach, this could be an opportunity to act before the price skyrockets. Whether Liverpool make that leap could come down to how much faith Slot places in potential over proven pedigree.

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Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Let’s not get carried away. We’ve seen this before — the endless parade of “wonderkids” linked to Anfield every window. Jesús Rodriguez might have flair, but are we really in a place to take another punt on promise?

Arne Slot’s first job should be to stabilise, not gamble. We’ve already got Harvey Elliott, Ben Doak, and a conveyor belt of potential. Do we really need another teenager who’s played a handful of senior games in Spain and has yet to face the relentless grind of English football?

And look at the competition. Arsenal are flying, Chelsea hoard young talent like it’s going out of fashion — are we going to win this one? And more importantly, should we even be trying?

What Liverpool need is proven depth. Jota’s injuries and Diaz’s uncertainty demand experience, not another developmental project. If Rodriguez comes in, great — but only if it’s part of a balanced summer that addresses now as much as the future.

Because this club shouldn’t be a proving ground. It should be a destination. And at this point, signing a teenager from Betis feels like a risk we can’t afford if we want to challenge seriously next season.

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