LIVERPOOL have entered the race to sign Santos teenager Thiago Maia.
The 19-year-old already has three seasons under his belt since making his Santos debut aged just 16, and has represented his country at Under 17’s through to Under 23 level.
Maia operates as a holding midfielder, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp boss is looking to balance providing quality cover for club captain Jordan Henderson and Emre Can while having an eye on the future.
Maia was one of the stand out performers for the Brazilian football team on home soil last summer as the hosts won Olympic gold for the first time in their history.
Liverpool will face stiff competition for Maia, Monaco, Schalke and Napoli are also keen to bag the teenager with Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg already having a substantial bid snubbed by the Brazilian according to ESPN Brazil.
The midfielder is on holiday before the Brazilian season resumes in January and has insisted his mind is fully focused on helping Santos challenge for honours.
Maia said: "I'm on vacation, it's been a lot of work, but a very important year in my career.
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"I was an Olympic champion and, in Santos, we had a regular season, the São Paulo title and the Brazilian runner-up. The Saints and my representatives decide if it's time for a transfer.
If it's to stay, the supporter can rest easy, I want to repeat the good season, play Libertadores and be a champion."
Klopp is also keeping tabs on Nantes teenager Amine Harit, dubbed the 'new Hatem Ben Arfa'.
A deal for the highly gifted teenager could be wrapped up during the January transfer window to steal a march on other high profile clubs who keen on Harit.
The 19-year-old startlet notched his first league goal in the win against Angers last week.
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