Liverpool to copy Real Madrid strategy with transfer hijack

Stuart Telford

• 6 Apr 2023 19:50 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool are trying to beat Arsenal to the signing of Vitor Roque, according to reports in Brazil, although the young striker insists he wants to join Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense.

Vitor Roque has shot to prominence in Brazil, starting the current campaign with four goals in five games and winning his first senior cap with the Selecao in March.

The 18-year-old has previously admitted that Barcelona would be "a dream for any player," but with the Blaugrana needing to reduce their debt by €200 million to play in La Liga next season, a summer transfer seems unlikely.

READ: Who is Vitor Roque? The Brazilian wonderkid wanted by Arsenal and Barcelona

Arsenal had hoped to swoop, uniting him with fellow Brazilians Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, but Liverpool want to skip the queue with their own Brazilian, Roberto Firmino, leaving at the end of the season.

English interest in Roque

"Roque's entourage have been in in England," report Brazilian TV station Globo Esporte. "The striker interest from several Premier League teams - West Ham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Aston Vila and Arsenal.

"There is still no official proposal to the player's agents or Athletico. However, two teams from England and Barcelona have already promised to submit official proposals to try to get the youngster in the [Brazilian] mid-season international window."

READ: Vitor Roque: Barcelona and Arsenal transfer target continues hot streak

It is understood that those two English teams are Arsenal and Liverpool, but Liverpool's advantage could be the promise of first-team football. While Jesus would be in Roque's way at the Emirates, Firmino would no longer be at Anfield.

Liverpool are taking a leaf out of Real Madrid's book in pursuing the Brazilian market. The Spanish European champions have enjoyed significant success with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo - players plucked straight from Brazil without an intermediate step in Europe - in recent seasons.

Real have also agreed to pay Palmeiras €72m for Endrick in the summer of 2024 when he turns 18, and the Reds are hoping that Roque had a similarly high ceiling.