Liverpool is said to have sent scouts to watch Konstantinos Karetsas in action for Greece last week as it gears up for a potentially busy summer transfer window.
The Reds are preparing for a first major summer of investment under Arne Slot with several arrivals expected and a number of departures. Liverpool tends to invest in younger players, knowing there’s room for growth and future development.
Karetsas, the 17-year-old Greek international certainly fits into that category. The midfielder has made 30 appearances for Genk this season, including 25 of the club’s 30 league fixtures. So impressive has his form been at such a young age, he has attracted interest from several of Europe’s top clubs.
According to TBR Football, Liverpool was among the sides who sent scouts to watch the teenager at Hampden Park on Sunday in Greece’s 3-0 win over Scotland.
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion all sent representatives to keep an eye on Karetsas, the report adds. He scored a sublime goal in Edinburgh and gave Liverpool’s Andy Robertson a tough game playing from a right wing position.
That was just the youngster’s second-ever international appearance, with the first coming in the reverse leg of the Nations League double header in Athens. He certainly made an impression on Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon who, when asked about Karetsas, said: “He looked fantastic when he came on. He’s someone we’ll need to look out for in the second leg.
“I haven’t seen many debuts like that from someone so young. It was an impressive first cap for him, but thankfully we managed to keep him out. We’ll see what Sunday brings and he might get more minutes at Hampden, but I’m sure we’ll have a plan to deal with that as well.”
Greece’s win on aggregate saw Scotland relegated to the second tier of the Nations League, as the Euro 2004 replaced them in League A.
The Greeks will hope Karetsas can guide them to more success in the coming years after switching his allegiance from Belgium, where he was born and the side he represented at youth level.
“Already, I feel like I belong in the national team. I’m really happy I made the decision to be here,” Karetsas said after the win in Scotland, as per BBC Sports. “I was up against Andy Robertson. He is a very good player, but when I go one on one, I don’t see who’s in front of me.
“We lost, but we played well in the second half and that is how we have to play on Sunday in Scotland. I think, if we play like that, we will win.”
Karetsas plays primarily from an attacking midfield role but is also capable of playing deeper or from the right wing.
