Premier League giants Liverpool have made an offer for 19-year-old Atletico Madrid defender Theo Hernandez, currently on loan at Deportivo Alaves.
According to journalist Roger Torello of Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the highly sought after fullback, who is currently spending a season out on loan at FC Alaves, is set to hold talks with his agent and come to a decision about his next possible destination.
The report states that besides the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, the 19-year-old defender also has an offer from Premier League side Liverpool. The Reds are in dire need of a talented left-back in their squad and Theo would perfectly fit the bill.
Liverpool currently have young Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno as the only recognized left-backs in the squad. But neither have proven themselves to be worthy of a regular spot in the first XI and as a result, Jurgen Klopp has been forced to play James Milner there for most of the season.
It is unclear as to when Liverpool made this offer, but at only 19, Klopp will have enough time to mould Hernandez’s game according to his philosophy. He wouldn’t cost them too much money and may very well prove to be a very good long term investment for the Reds.
Hernandez, whose father spent a season at Atletico and brother Lucas is a part of the first team setup at the Vicente Calderon, joined Atletico aged 10 and has since made his way up the youth ranks. He was loaned to Deportivo Alaves last summer in a bid to gain more experience.
In his first full season in the Spanish top flight, he has been a key part of the newly promoted Deportivo Alaves side who have shone throughout the campaign and are currently placed 10th in the table, and he has also helped them to the Copa Del Rey Final, where they will face Barcelona.
He has made 35 appearances across all competitions this term and has notched 4 assists during that time. He does, however, have a bad habit of collecting bookings on a regular basis, getting 12 yellow cards in 30 La Liga appearances and 13 over the course of the season.
According to recent reports, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two main contenders, with Los Blancos leading the line for his signature. But for a player who has spent his entire youth at Atletico, one wonders if he will actually make the switch to their fierce cross-town rivals.
He is reported to have a release clause of €24 million and it a fee that can easily be met by any of the aforementioned clubs. Barcelona also interest him, but according to MD, they will be at a disadvantage as they won’t be willing to offer the same kind of wages as the other clubs.
What may prove to be the deciding factors for Hernandez, besides the wages and the prospect of a regular starting position in the team. He would have virtually no competition at Liverpool, while at Real he would have to compete with Marcelo and Jordi Alba and Lucas Digne at Barcelona.
At only 19, it is crucial that the youngster gets adequate game time at the top level to ensure that he keeps progressing after a very promising debut season and Anfield might very well be the best place for the young Frenchman to fulfil his potential.
