Liverpool open talks over deal for 17-year-old FIFA World Cup jewel | OneFootball

Liverpool are racing to get ahead of their rivals in a deal for one FIFA World Cup wonderkid.

Having facilitated the rise of Rio Ngumoha - one of the top teenagers in the global game - the Reds are attempting to repeat the trick for Gilberto Mora.

The Mexico record-breaker, 17, is attracting attention from all across Europe having established himself for El Tri before - and during the World Cup.

The attacking midfielder now looks destined for a big move after he turns 18 later this year with Liverpool having already opened talks.

Liverpool open talks for Gilberto Mora

That’s according to a report in TEAMtalk which claims Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all having a close look at the Tijuana jewel.

“Of the Premier League contingent, sources credit Liverpool as being ‘very keen’ and have already made contact to establish the conditions of a deal, as well as the desires of Mora himself,” the report reads.

“However, sources insist a deal is far from close, and the approach is only an exploratory one at this stage, as the Reds try to get ahead in what looks like a very congested transfer race

“Valuations are said to exceed €40 million (£34m, $45m), reflecting his rapid rise in the game, which has already seen him earn an impressive 12 caps for his country.”

Gilberto Mora: Situation summary

Gilberto Mora is a nimble, high‑touch attacking midfielder who plays off the front line as a connector and final‑third problem‑solver rather than a pure nine.

Operating primarily between the lines, he receives on the half‑turn, links quickly, and looks to slide vertical passes or combine before drifting into shooting positions, with his balance and tight control giving him an Iniesta‑style feel that Mexico’s media have already leaned into.

Born in October 2008 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mora joined Tijuana’s academy at 10 and shattered domestic age records, becoming Liga MX’s youngest assist provider and youngest goalscorer before turning 16.

What's next for Mora?

Internationally he’s now Mexico’s youngest senior cap and headed into the 2026 World Cup as its youngest player, already into double figures for national‑team appearances.

Contractually, Mora signed a new three‑year deal with Tijuana in June 2026, taking the No.10 shirt and, crucially, inserting a “tailored and clearly structured release mechanism” that anticipates concrete European bids rather than simply locking him down.

The structure is designed to give Tijuana protection while mapping a pathway out, with a €10m valuation widely cited as the current benchmark.

Transfer‑wise, he sits in the “when, not if” bucket: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, AC Milan and others are all tracking him, with some reports even flagging Liverpool among the clubs watching his World Cup minutes closely.

Given his age, contract and profile, the next step likely comes as a carefully staged move to a Champions League‑calibre club willing to absorb an adaptation period for a currently 17‑year‑old creator rather than expecting immediate output.