Liverpool and Arsenal battle for in-demand €50m teenage wonderkid | OneFootball

As performances continue to disappoint on the pitch, many supporters are turning their attention to Liverpool's plans for the summer window.

One summer move has already been announced, a £60 million deal that will see Jeremy Jacquet link up with Arne Slot’s squad once the window opens.

Several positions are expected to be addressed at the end of the season, but for many the focus will be continuing to strengthen the defence.

Ibrahima Konate is into the final months of his deal and both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will be entering the final year of their contracts.

Giovanni Leoni is already at the club, and Jacquet is on his way, but the Reds are now being linked with another of Europe’s top defensive prospects.

Liverpool eying €50 million teenage defender

The Reds’ recruitment strategy has seen them move for some of the best young players from across Europe in recent windows, and that trend is set to continue.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Premier League champions are now in the race to sign VfB Stuttgart’s teenage sensation Finn Jeltsch.

Jeltsch has quickly become a mainstay in the Stuttgart side that currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga, making 30 appearances already this season.

The report states that Jeltsch’s important status within the squad and his incredibly high ceiling have led Stuttgart to place a €50 million (~£43m) price tag on the teenager.

Liverpool aren’t the only party interested either, with both Arsenal and Bayern Munich mentioned as potential suitors for the German U21 international.

As it stands, Konate will be leaving Merseyside for free come the end of the season, and brining in Jeltsch to play alongside Jacquet and Leoni would make a lot of sense.

Despite Van Dijk’s age, the Dutchman has proven he is still capable of playing at the very top level this season and is expected to carry on at Anfield next campaign.

Having at least one season alongside Van Dijk would be invaluable for the likes of Jeltsch, Leoni and Jacquet and could set Liverpool’s backline up for the next decade.