Liverpool scouts and Ten Hag proved right by under the radar transfer targets

07 April 2023 , 07:00

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Given their recruitment record, it's fair to say that both Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag both know a good player when they see one.

While in charge of Ajax, Ten Hag worked with some of the most talented youngsters in world football at a club renowned for their outstanding youth academy. The same could be said for Manchester United, where the Dutchman now finds himself hoping to achieve similar feats to what Klopp has managed at Liverpool.

After years of success with, by and large, the same core group of players, the Reds are now back scouring the market in search of the next tentpoles at Anfield, particularly those with youth on their side. And like Ten Hag, their scouts have been proven right after CIES Football Observatory published a list of the top 100 players under the age of 23 - from outside of Europe's top five leagues - with the highest estimated transfer values.

The top five players all have links to either United or Liverpool, with Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos taking first place with an estimated value of around €70million (£61m). The 21-year-old Portugal international has been linked with United as Ten Hag searches for a new No.9 in the summer transfer window.

Next up are three centre-backs, firstly Ramos' Benfica team-mate, Antonio Silva. The Portuguese youngster, 19, is a hot prospect in his homeland, where Liverpool's scouts have reportedly been spending some time watching him in person as Benfica look set to win the title this season.

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Benfica ace Antonio Silva has been watched by Liverpool scouts (CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)

Silva has a whopping €100m (£87m) release clause, although the Football Observatory values him at a considerably lower rate. According to their latest study, the defender's worth is around €66m (£57m).

Just like how they're understood to have scouted Silva in person, Liverpool also have eyes on Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio, rated at €62m (£54m). Another Portuguese hotshot, 21, has been a mainstay at Sporting for the past two seasons and Reds scouts will likely have been impressed by watching his talents.

In fourth place is €57m (£49m) Ajax centre-back Jurrien Timber, who Ten Hag brought into the first team as a teenager. Timber, who can also play at right-back, was wanted by the United boss last summer but chose to remain in Amsterdam and sign a new deal.

Jurrien Timber was wanted by Manchester United last summer (Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

That hasn't stopped talk of a departure, though, with Old Trafford chiefs keeping tabs on his progress. The same goes for his team-mate Kenneth Taylor.

A midfielder with an eye for goal who can also play in centre defence, the budding Netherlands international - aged 20 and value at €49m (£42m) - has been linked with a switch to United, a move which would make him the third Ajax player Ten Hag has signed since leaving the club.

PSV Eindhoven's Xavi Simons, a former Paris Saint-Germain prodigy, comes in at sixth place with an estimated value of €47m (£41m). Following him in seventh is yet another of Ten Hag's Ajax prodigies, Mohammed Kudus. Having shone for Ghana and the World Cup and interested United in January, the versatile attacked is valued at €44m (£39m).

Mohammed Kudus is starring for Ajax (NESimages/Geert van Erven/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

22-year-old Brazilian forward Yuri Alberto, who plays for Corinthians, makes it in eighth place, followed by rumoured Arsenal target Orkun Kokcu. Also 22, the Turkish midfielder is the captain on Feyenoord, who'd need an almighty collapse to lose their firm grip over Ajax in the Dutch title race.

Benjamin Sesko rounds out the top 10, having already signed for RB Leipzig following interest from a host of elite clubs, such as United. The Slovenian striker, still only 19, is firing in the goals for Red Bull Salzburg and like Alberto and Kokcu boasts an estimated value around €35m (£30m).

Benjamin Sesko will join RB Leipzig this summer (Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Have your say! Who should Liverpool and Man Utd sign this summer? Give us your picks in the comments section.

Both United and Liverpool are braced for busy summers, with each side needing to spend big in their own right. Ten Hag and co will be eyeing a title charge, with Klopp's side are braced for what many fans hope is a full-scale rebuild in a bid to return themselves back to the top of European football.