Altinordu teenage defender Ravil Tagir in action. (Image Credits: Twitter)
According to Turkish newspaper Yeni Asir (h/t Daily Express), Liverpool are keen on signing Altinordu talents Ravil Tagir and Burak Ince.
The teenage duo of Tagir and Ince has been impressive for Turkish second-tier outfit Altinordu, making a combined 46 first-team appearances for them this season. Despite it being their maiden season, both Tagir and Ince have quickly established themselves as key players within the side due to their eye-catching displays.
17-year-old centre-back Tagir, the more established of the two, has been a regular within the side and has featured in 26 of their overall 28 league games. He has also helped his side to seven clean sheets in the process, which speaks volumes about his talent.
Despite being just 17, Tagir has already made two appearances for the Turkey under-21 side and was a part of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier last year. Meanwhile, 16-year-old attacking midfielder Ince has made 16 league appearances this season for Altinordu, mainly featuring in the central midfield role under manager Hüseyin Eroglu.
Unlike Tagir, Ince is yet to feature for the under-21 Turkey side and still plies his trade with their under-16 squad. A midfielder with a keen eye for goal, Ince has four goals from six games for them.
With both the Turkish teenagers showing clear signs of their potential at such a young age, Premier League side Liverpool are monitoring the situation and are planning to offer a sum of around £6.6million for the pair.
However, Liverpool will have to wait a little longer to bring the duo to England due to work permit issues, as they are not yet 18. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, on the other hand, are in sensational form this season after their Champions League triumph last year.
Liverpool are currently on top of the Premier League table with 25 points separating them from defending champions Manchester City, who are in second place. With the side’s squad working in tandem, Liverpool have enjoyed a successful campaign so far.
However, manager Klopp would be aware that it is not enough to keep them at the top in the long run. At present, Liverpool have four centre-backs in the side, which includes Virgil van Dijk, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez.
However, Lovren will turn 31 this July and has been affected by injuries this season, with him making just 9 league appearances.
The Reds also have as many as nine midfielders in their ranks. But with skipper Jordan Henderson about to turn 30 this month and James Milner already 34, they are clearly in need of some young faces for the future.
Considering all this, a move for rising talents Tagir and Ince seems like a step in the right direction. The two could prove to be excellent signings for the future if they fulfil their potential.
Liverpool are well stacked in every department currently, which is evident from their performances in recent times. However, this alone won’t secure them of a safe future. Hence, it would be wise to rope in young talents like Tagir and Ince, who will be of use to the Reds in the future.
