Didi Hamann names starlet he’d like to see Liverpool sign - and it’s not Fabio Carvalho or Jude Bellingham

Liverpool are still hoping to tie up a deal for Fabio Carvalho.

The Reds missed out on a January deadline-day swoop for the Fulham midfielder.

Background

The move for Carvalho collapsed at the 11th hour, meaning he had to remain at the Championship leaders for the remainder of the season.

Indeed, Klopp admitted that he's still keen on the 18-year-old after the window shut and will still be hopeful of tying up a deal for the summer.

Carvalho is enjoying a remarkable season for the Cottagers.

He's recorded eight goals and five assists in 22 appearances, with Marco Silva's men on track to achieve immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

Carvalho has certainly got fans excited about a potential arrival at the end of the season.

What’s been said

However, former Kop midfielder Didi Hamann would instead have another teenage starlet at Liverpool if he could only pick one.

FourFourTwo has released its annual list of the top 50 most promising players in world football.

Jude Bellingham - who has also long been linked with Liverpool - sits top of the standings.

Meanwhile, Carvalho is in seventh spot and current Reds starlet Harvey Elliott is fourth.

But it's the player who's ranked ninth, Florian Wirtz, who Hamann would take to Anfield if he could.

Reacting to the list, Hamann wrote on Twitter: “The first 8 must be pretty special.”

Then asked by a fan who he'd like to see at the Reds, he replied: "Number 9, best I’ve seen in a long time."

Hamann previously told FreeSuperTips on Wirtz: “He’s a brilliant player, a different player to [Kai] Havertz, but he’s playing very well so far for Leverkusen.

“The only thing he lacks is a yard of pace, but I think he makes up for it with the positions he takes up.

“He’s stepped up so far, he’s been amazing, you can see he’s a leader in this team with his performances in the early weeks of the season.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a better central midfielder at his age in decades, that’s how good I think he is.”

Who is Florian Wirtz?

Wirtz is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Bayer Leverkusen.

He made his debut for the Bundesliga aged 17 years and 15 days - surpassing current Chelsea star Kai Havertz's record as the youngster player to represent Leverkusen in the process.

This season, Wirtz has racked up an impressive 10 goals and 13 assists for Die Werkself, who sit third in the German top flight.

He has also been capped four times by Germany at senior level despite his tender age.

Wirtz has previously been linked with a move to Anfield.