Reds tracking former Barcelona prospect.
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Liverpool are said to be keeping tabs on the progress of highly-rated Lazio starlet Keita Balde Diao, according to reports in the Daily Express.
The 18-year-old winger has just started to break into the first-team at Lazio, having joined the club last season after leaving the youth ranks of Barcelona, where he had become one of the brightest prospects at the Nou Camp.
Manchester United and Real Madrid had been linked with Keita before he joined Lazio, and he is attracting serious attention once again as Liverpool scouts watched him lay on assist for Brazilian midfielder Hernanes in the team’s Europa League victory over Legia Warsaw last week.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been keen to recruit the best young talent since taking over at Anfield, having signed the likes of Tiago Ilori and Luis Alberto during the summer and keeping an eye on Derby County youngster Will Hughes for January as well.
Keita’s current contract runs until 2017, but a reasonable offer may persuade the Italians to part company with a player they managed to land on the cheap, which will be a boost to Liverpool as they seek to strengthen their options on the flanks.