'It's no secret' - Liverpool transfer offer revealed as talks confirmed over 'Serbian Messi'
Liverpool have reportedly showed interest in the teenage Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder Andrija Maksimovic. According to the player's agent, Zoran Stojadinovic, the Reds are one of several serious suitors offering to sign the teenager.
Maksimovic only made his professional debut 18 months ago after just turning 16 but is now a regular member of the senior Serbia national team. Has has also made seven appearances for Red Star in the Champions League this season, starting games against Barcelona, Inter and Milan.
Domestically, Maksimovic has scored 12 goals and assisted another seven for his team-mates since the start of last season. He also has the nickname, 'Messi', from when he had similarly long hair as a younger Lionel Messi once did.
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His agent, Stojadinovic, who also represented the last player Liverpool signed from Red Star, Marko Grujic, has now named the Reds as one club to show interest in Maksimovic. He made the remarks on the sports podcast Miljanov Corner a week ago, but the comments are only resurfacing in English this weekend.
"It's no secret, there are some offers," Stojadinovic said. "Liverpool are among them, Aston Villa, Leipzig and Atletico Madrid, so all the clubs from the top leagues have shown serious interest.
"And then we get to whether the price is €12million [£10m] or €20m [£16.7m]... so they say, 'Let's see if it's €20m by June'. Maksimovic would have already been sold if the price was €10m [£8.4m], and he could go."
Stojadinovic then explained why he cannot leave this winter: "He has to stay until June because of his age. According to the rules, a minor player outside the European Union cannot sign.
"He has to stay until (5th) June when he turns 18, and there is no question of leaving." Stojadinovic also compared the interest in Maksimovic to another of his clients, Alen Halilovic, who signed for Barcelona at 17.
