Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool transfer news: Surprise Marcos Leonardo signing claim emerges from Brazil

Marcos Leonardo Santos June 2022

Little-known Santos striker Marcos Leonardo will join Liverpool, according to a Brazilian TV presenter.

The 19-year-old has scored 12 goals in 32 appearances this season for the Sao Paulo-based side. His six goals in 12 Serie A appearances for the Brazilian outfit in the league has got scouts checking on the player.

Leonardo made his debut for Santos in August 2020 and he has gone on to score 24 goals in 91 appearances in all competitions. He has has scored seven times in just three appearances for the Brazil under-20s.

Despite his goalscoring feats he has not been mentioned much as a target for Premier League clubs as yet.

A TV pundit named Veloso claimed did claim earlier this month that Leonardo had been sold to an “English group” and that he would join an “English club”.

And now another TV reporter named Milton Neves has said as much again.

He told Esporte na Band: “Corinthians yesterday escaped being defeated by the Santos kids. Marcos Leonardo, who’s going to Liverpool, this guy is the new Romario!”

It’s a claim that has come out of the blue. And it’s unclear just how reliable the host Neves actually is.

The claim is made by the host as if Leonardo’s reported move to Anfield is old news. He throws in the claim mid-sentence and does not revisit the subject.

Could Marcos Leonardo follow Marcelo Pitaluga?

Reports have suggested that Leonardo has a release clause in his contract worth around £51m. And Liverpool do have a number of scouts in South America watching out for talent.

In fact they signed goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga on a permanent deal from Fluminese in 2020.

Pitaluga, 19, was scouted with the help of Alisson Becker’s brother Muriel.

Liverpool were also close to signing Real Madrid star Rodrygo for €3m in 2017. That was 12 months before he signed for Real for a fee of €45m. But former Man City star Elan blocked the deal.

“I went to the board and said, ‘No, no, we can’t let him leave for this,’” he told BBC Sport.

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