Liverpool have reportedly stepped up their efforts to sign Adam Hlozek, having prepared a bid to sign the 18-year-old, also a target for West Ham United.
According to a report by Football Insider, Liverpool have been left impressed by Adam Hlozek’s performances and are lining up a move for the 18-year-old striker. The Sparta Praha prodigy is also the subject of interest from West Ham United over a move in the summer transfer window.
Adam Hlozek joined Sparta Praha from hometown club Ivancice in 2014 and made such rapid progress in the Czech club’s youth setup that it only took him four years to break into their first-team setup. Aged just 16 at the time, the teenage prospect has already developed considerably in the senior side in the Prague-based club.
To date, Hlozek has made 86 appearances for Sparta Praha while amassing a record of 28 goals and 21 assists in the process. The 18-year-old’s progress has certainly not gone unnoticed, with Premier League giants like Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham United all being linked with him in recent times.
The interest from Liverpool makes a lot of sense as Roberto Firmino has blown hot and cold for quite some time now while Divock Origi is expected to be offloaded this summer. In addition, the talismanic duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be unavailable in January due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jurgen Klopp, therefore, needs to have enough cover in his squad to make up for the absence of Salah and Mane, which is why Liverpool have been linked with a gamut of attacking players. And in Hlozek, the Reds will have a player who could even be a long-term successor for Firmino, groomed directly at Anfield.
Liverpool, though, have been facing stiff competition from West Ham United for Hlozek, with the Hammers hard in search of a striker after failing to replace Sebastien Haller in January. As a result, the East Londoners have been linked with several strikers in recent times, including Martin Braithwaite, Giovanni Simeone and Maxi Gomez, among others.
Hlozek, too, is a viable target for West Ham, although they now appear to have fallen behind Liverpool in the race to sign the 18-year-old. As per the report, Hlozek was recently monitored by the Merseyside outfit’s scouts, in attendance at Sparta Praha’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against Rapid Vienna.
Football Insider further add that Liverpool are now considering a bid for Hlozek, with the club keen on signing a young forward who can be moulded in Klopp’s image. Liverpool could be asked to shell out between £15 million and £20 million and it remains to be seen if their offer matches that valuation. It will also be interesting to see if West Ham can usurp the Reds in pursuit of the 18-year-old.
