Liverpool signing this 17-year-old Serie A prospect would be a massive statement of intent

published

by

Sayan Chatterjee

Why Liverpool should move for Italian starlet Sebastiano Esposito

According to claims from FC Inter News, as relayed by Calciomercato (English), Liverpool are among a host of clubs tracking Inter Milan prospect Sebastiano Esposito ahead of the January transfer window. 

The reigning European champions are joined by Borussia Dortmund, Man City and PSG in their pursuit of the 17-year-old centre-forward, who is right up there with the best emerging talents in Italy (FC Inter News h/t Calciomercato).

Image result for sebastiano esposito
Sebastiano Esposito is held in high regard by the coaching staff at Inter Milan (Getty Images)

Born in Naples, Italy, Esposito started his footballing education at Brescia, where he spent three years at the youth level before completing a move to Inter Milan back in 2014. The highly-rated striker racked up an eye-watering tally of 33 goals in 40 appearances for Inter’s U17 side while also featuring in the Primavera, as well as in the UEFA Youth League, earlier in his career.

The 17-year-old’s prolific returns across various age-group levels paved the way for a senior professional bow in the previous campaign. Esposito made his first-team debut for the Nerazzurri during the second leg of the UEFA Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt as a 16-year-old. In the process, became the youngest player ever to feature in a European competition match for the club.

The towering centre-forward, who has already made his mark for Italy at the U19 level, has gone from strength to strength since his senior debut at Inter last season. 

As a matter of fact, he has played three substitute cameos apiece in the Serie A and the group stages of the Champions League so far this term.

Image result for sebastiano esposito
Esposito made his senior debut for Inter as a 16-year-old last season (Getty Images)

The Reds spent a rather quiet transfer window this past summer following some heavy investment over the past 18 months, with talented youngsters Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott coming through the door at Anfield from PEC Zwolle and Fulham respectively.

Highly-rated Dutch starlet Ki-Jana Hoever also made his move to Liverpool from Ajax in the summer of 2018, signifying that the Reds have made some smart moves as far as their youth recruitment drive is concerned. 

The likes of Curtin Jones, Rhian Brewster, Elliott, Caiomhin Kelleher, van den Berg and several others have tasted first-team football at Anfield this season and Sebastiano Esposito could be yet another fantastic addition to the existing pool of up and coming talents at Liverpool.

Image result for sebastiano esposito
Esposito has already made his mark for Italy at the U-19 level (Getty Images)

With Mo Salah, Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino all vying for a place up top in Klopp’s ranks, Brewster has found regular minutes hard to come by in the Premier League and Esposito will probably need to prove his worth at the Premier League 2 level if he were to move to Liverpool in the upcoming window.

Verdict

The Reds lost academy striker Bobby Duncan to Fiorentina this past summer, meaning that someone like Esposito would be a good replacement.  That he is already rubbing shoulders with the big boys is definitely indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years.

More Liverpool News

All in all, Liverpool completing a move for Sebastiano Esposito could pay off handsomely for them in the years to come.