‘Messi’ to Liverpool? Reds target ‘next big jewel’ compared to Modric and with brilliant nickname

Robin Bairner

• 19 Oct 2024 21:49 BST
• 4 min read

Liverpool have yet to make big strides in the transfer market under new manager Arne Slot, but all that could be about to change as the Reds have one of the brightest young talents in the world on their radar.

According to Christian Falk, Liverpool are closely monitoring the progress of Andrija Maksimovic, who play as a creative midfielder for Red Star Belgrade.

After starting the season with Red Star’s reserve team in the second tier, he was quickly promoted to the senior side after scoring three and creating two more.

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Since being promoted to the first team following the September international break, he has produced two assists in three starts and made his international bow against Switzerland in the Nations League.

“Dortmund see Andrija Maksimovic, 17, as one of the next big jewels in football – like they saw in Jamie Gittens for instance. But it’s not so concrete at the moment that they’re planning on buying him,” Falk told CaughtOffside.

“Liverpool and other clubs who are interested are perhaps closer. In Dortmund, they are discussing the name but it’s not so hot at the moment, so not the next one they’re going to buy.

“We’ll see how close the English clubs will get to this deal, but Dortmund are not at the starting line at the moment.”

Current ETV

Andrija Maksimovic

M (CR)

Graficar

Andrija Maksimovic

M (CR)

Graficar

€0.8M

ETV Range

€0.6M - €1M

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Likened to Messi, Modric and Bernardo Silva

Maksimovic was nicknamed ‘Messi’ in his formative years because of his long hair, which resembled that of Lionel Messi before he cut it, but also because of his sharp dribbling abilities.

His defining traits, meanwhile, have earned comparisons to the likes of Luka Modric, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.

Maksimovic is noted for his close control and precision passing, which allow him to excel in transition. Although this is less important for Liverpool under Slot than it was under Jurgen Klopp, it is still an appealing quality, particularly combined with his vision, work rate and composure.

Indeed, it is his maturity on the ball that could define him as a top player in the months to come, having taken his breakthrough at Red Star in his stride.

Although Maksimovic’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just €800,000 after barely 150 minutes of league football, expect to see this figure shoot up in the months ahead.

Indeed, there is every chance he could become one of Red Star’s biggest sales of the century, with Nemanja Radonjic’s €12m move to Marseille in 2018 their greatest sale since 2001.