Reds hoping to move for Keita Balde Diao.
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Liverpool are ahead of Manchester United in the race for teenage Lazio striker Keita Balde Diao, report the Express, who suggest that an offer for Keita has already been rejected by the Serie A club.
It is also suggested that the Reds are ready to return with an improved offer for the youngster, however, who scored five times in 23 appearances for the Rome club last season.
A product of the youth system at Barcelona, 19 year-old Keita hit headlines when he scored an incredibly 47 goals in the course of one season when on loan at UD Cornella in the lower leagues in Spain.
Lazio were willing to shell out £300,000 to secure his services in 2011 and have developed him patiently, before giving him a real opportunity to impact upon Serie A last season – a chance that Keita largely seized with both hands.
Liverpool are still on the lookout for additional attacking options after having allowed Luis Suarez to leave Anfield for Barcelona this summer, with a move for Queens Park Rangers’French international Loic Remy already having fallen through this summer.
Keita would certainly be building for the future from Brendan Rodgers, but he also has the ability to make an impact for Liverpool this season should they be able to lure him to Anfield.