CA Talleres president Andres Fassi has confirmed Liverpool’s interest in acquiring Colombian defensive wonderkid Kevin Mantilla.
Fassi, confirming the contact, highlighted Liverpool’s pursuit of Talleres’ central defender. At 20 years old, Mantilla has recently become a part of Talleres, and Fassi firmly dismissed any notions of entertaining a potential January transfer for the talented player.
Liverpool faced setbacks with injuries, losing Joel Matip to a season-long injury in their recent 4-3 Premier League victory against Fulham.
The team also experienced injuries to their specialized left-backs, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Additionally, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for several weeks.
Despite these challenges, emerging talents like Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley have stepped up in the absence of senior team players.
While they have successfully navigated the injury crisis this season, the potential departure of Matip in the summer has underscored the need for strategic recruitment by Liverpool.
In a conversation with La Voz (reported by Mirror), Fassi confirmed Liverpool’s interest and their request for Mantilla’s medical records, stating: “It’s true, they [Liverpool] have been following him for four months now. And they asked us for information about his physical records.”
Mantilla, having participated in nine matches across various competitions for Talleres, has firmly established himself as a consistent presence in the team.
Standing tall at 1.91 meters, he possesses a robust physique, defying his youth, enabling him to effectively engage in both aerial and ground duels.
As a Colombian U20 international, Mantilla exemplifies the characteristics of a contemporary central defender, showcasing commendable technical prowess in ball handling for precise pass distribution.
His adept close control and capability to embark on progressive runs from the defensive position contribute significantly to initiating attacks from the team’s rear.
Mantilla has displayed commendable recoveries to offset being out of position and has consistently delivered well-timed tackles. Despite these positive aspects, the young player is deemed as still developing, necessitating experience, patience, and time for skill refinement.
Considered a potential textbook signing by Liverpool scouts, Mantilla underwent thorough evaluation emerging from an obscure league. Yet, uncertainties linger about Klopp’s preference for a more seasoned player, especially with the existing presence of Quansah within the team.
In other Liverpool news, Fabrizio Romano Drops Fresh January Claim on Liverpool’s £60m Transfer Target