Everything you need to know about Samuel Martinez as Liverpool close in on move | OneFootball

Here's everything you need to know about Samuel Martinez as Liverpool close in on their first transfer of the summer.

It's happening. A lot earlier than expected. But it looks like Michael Edwards and his recruitment team are making moves.

Over the course of the last year or so, we have seen how Liverpool have benefitted from widening their recruitment team and global scouting network.

This is how the likes of Armin Pecsi, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Sidy Barhama Ndiaye, Mor Talla Ndiaye and now Samuel Martinez have been recruited.

The goal under Edwards' new model is to recruit the best players of their generation, bring them to Anfield at an early age and make Liverpool a hub for elite talent.

Over the last decade, Liverpool have proven that they are the best place for young players to develop. There's a clear pathway at Anfield for players to come through and make their mark.

It is this pathway that Martinez will now be hoping to follow.

As we reported, Liverpool are closing in on his signature and it looks like this is a deal that is going to happen.

He won't be arriving at Liverpool any time soon though. Martinez will have to wait until he turns 18-years-old to be eligible to move to Anfield as per current FIFA rules.

His birthday is in April and he'll be able to move to the club in the next transfer window after his 18th birthday so this will be the summer of 2027.

So, the club is going to have to wait for him. In the meantime he is expected to stay his current club Atletico Nacional where he plays for their U20 team.

In terms of what kind of player he is, he has been likened to Kaka. He helped Colombia win the U17 Copa America, which is where he alerted the attention of the club's scouts.

So, what can we expect? Is he truly like Kaka?

Well, there are similarities. He plays in the same position, deployed as a no.8 or no.10 and he has the same sort of gait and ability to carry the ball forward with ease.

He averaged 7.23 dribbles per 90 minutes at the U17 CONMEBOL and completed 62.5% of his attempts.

He also averaged 3.25 progressive runs per 90, which was the second highest among midfielders.

Martinez is a very creative player and loves to make an impact around the edge of the penalty area. Standing at 1.84 metres, he is already quite tall and there is a belief that he could become a no.8 rather than a no.10 in the future.

His defensive work-rate is top notch, he averaged over seven defensive duels per 90 minutes in the U17 Copa America and won close to 60% of them.

It's that movement and his brilliant footballing IQ that will have appealed to Liverpool.