Scouting Liverpool Transfer Target Jetro Willems

Liverpool’s search for a new left-back this summer has reportedly turned them to PSV Eindhoven’s Netherlands international Jetro Willems, with reports in the 22-year-old’s homeland suggesting he has been subject of interest from the Reds.

According to SoccerNews (h/t the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley), it would take a bid of €13 million (£10.86 million) to bring Willems to Merseyside, with the player in the final year of his contract with the Eredivisie champions.

This comes after a likely failure to sign Leicester City’s teenage star Ben Chilwell, with the Mail’s Simon Jones reporting that the England under-21 international is poised to sign a new five-year contract with the Foxes after Liverpool saw their initial £7 million bid rejected.

Jones also discussed the Reds’ interest in Willems and Aston Villa left-back Jordan Amavi, while also relaying word of a week-long trial for former Barcelona youngster Juanma, who featured in the Liverpool under-23 side’s 4-1 win over Rhyl FC on Sunday.

Reports of Liverpool pursuing Willems’ signature likely stem from the Dutchman’s recent Twitter post congratulating compatriot and former team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum on his move to Anfield from Newcastle United:

I wish you all the best at your new club my friend, we’ll see each other again soon! @GWijnaldum pic.twitter.com/P7nFu8HjkX

— Jetro willems (@JetroWillems_15) July 22, 2016

“We’ll see each other again soon,” came Willems’ praise, prompting speculation over a possible move to join the No. 5 at his new club.

However, if Liverpool’s quest to find cover for first-choice left-back Alberto Moreno—and a possible replacement for Brad Smith, who is set to complete a £6 million to Bournemouth on Tuesday, per the Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce—has led to Willems, would he be a wise addition to manager Jurgen Klopp’s squad?

Despite his tender age at 22, Willems has been established as a senior left-back at PSV for the past five seasons, and he made his debut for Sparta Rotterdam at 16 as a starter in a Jupiler League clash with Go Ahead Eagles at the beginning of 2011.

His career has been one of many early beginnings, with Willems becoming the youngest player to feature in a UEFA club competition when he started against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Europa League in November 2011, as well as being the youngest player to feature in the UEFA European Championship on his involvement in 2012.

So far in his senior career, Willems has amassed 176 club appearances, having left Sparta for PSV ahead of the 2011/12 season, as well as 20 caps on the international stage with the Netherlands.

This experience at such a young age should endear Willems to Klopp, with the German showcasing his focus on youth development already in his short time with the Reds:

Players 22 and Under to Feature Under Klopp, …

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