Liverpool transfer news: Andoni Iraola's team 'to battle' Barcelona for teenage star who could replace Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool could reportedly conflict Barcelona for the signature of Colorado Rapids centre-back Lucas Herrington during this summer's transportation window.

The 18-year-old has been an unused substitute successful Australia's 2 matches frankincense acold astatine the 2026 World Cup, and helium volition beryllium hopeless to marque his debut successful the contention this summer.

Herrington is regarded arsenic 1 of the champion antiaircraft prospects successful satellite football, with Barcelona believed to beryllium astatine the caput of the queue for his signature.

The La Liga champions are said to person had a 'historic bid' for Herrington turned down, but a caller and improved connection could get successful the adjacent future.

According to The Athletic, determination is besides important involvement from Liverpool, with the Reds said to beryllium keeping a adjacent oculus connected his concern this summer.

Liverpool could 'rival' Barca for Herrington deal

Herrington precocious addressed the speculation surrounding his future.

"I'm not truly reasoning excessively acold successful the future," helium told reporters. "So it is conscionable Colorado and present conscionable focusing connected the World Cup. That's wherever my absorption is astatine the moment, truthful we'll spot what happens aft that."

The teen played for Taringa Rovers, Toowong, Brisbane City and Brisbane Roar during his younker vocation and past turned nonrecreational with the second successful 2024, featuring connected 29 occasions for their archetypal squad up of a determination to Colorado Rapids successful January 2026.

Herrington has made 17 appearances for Colorado Rapids, portion each 4 of his Australia caps person travel this year, demonstrating however rapidly helium has progressed of late.

Could Herrington beryllium a semipermanent Van Dijk replacement?

A determination for Herrington would beryllium a portion of a semipermanent antiaircraft strategy astatine Liverpool, with the nine looking for a semipermanent replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

The Netherlands planetary volition beryllium 35 adjacent month, and helium is astir to participate the last twelvemonth of his declaration astatine Anfield, with a departure imaginable adjacent summer.

Ibrahima Konate has besides moved connected this summer, but a woody for outstanding imaginable Jeremy Jacquet has been secured, and it is imaginable that the second could signifier a semipermanent centre-back concern with Herrington astatine Anfield.