According to Belgian news outlet Nieuwsblad, Liverpool and Southampton are set to do battle over Inter Milan prodigy Zinho Vanheusden.
The Belgium Under-19 international defender has shone for Inter’s youth teams, and has been recommended by scouts to both Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp and new Saints chief Mauricio Pellegrino.
Both clubs have already touched base with the Serie A bigwigs, but they aren’t alone in their desires to snap up the highly-rated and promising centre-back.
Chelsea, Everton, Borussia Dortmund and Lyon have also scouted Vanheusden, 18, but Inter aren’t willing to listen to any offers.
The teenager is currently on tour with the San Siro outfit after he impressed boss Luciano Spalletti, and is due to make his official senior team bow next term following what has been a superb pre-season.
Liverpool are hoping to still land Virgil van Dijk, and Vanheusden is only a signing for the future if acquired.
He arrived San Siro from home-country club Standard Liege in 2015, and is contracted until 2019.
Whilst the lure of linking up with fellow Belgians Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi at Anfield will certainly be there, Vanheusden won’t likely be leaving the Italian club this summer as they hope to polish this rough gem for their own future use only.
