One player who signed for Liverpool this summer is reportedly attempting to persuade a defensive midfielder on the Reds’ radar to join him at Anfield.
Last month, the Merseyside club confirmed that they’d agreed a deal to sign Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional in his homeland, with the teenager moving to England next year after he’s turned 18.
The youngster is now understood to have taken on some ad-hoc agency duties by trying to convince a friend of his to follow him to L4.
Liverpool scouts watching Matias Orozco
According to information shared on VBar Caracol (via Sport Witness), Liverpool sent scouts to watch Matias Orozco during Deportivo Cali’s 2-2 draw against Inter de Bogota on Sunday, with the midfielder understood to have played well before being forced off with a minor injury in the second half.
During that livestream, it was claimed that Martinez has been trying to convince the 18-year-old (who’s a close personal friend) to join the Reds.
It seems that he could soon get his wish, as Deportivo Cali manager Rafael Dudamel said that ‘negotiations are advanced’ for Orozco to move to Europe, with journalist Diego Saviola even claiming (via X) that the teenager had just played his final game for his current club.
The player himself has sought to quell speculation over an exit from Colombia, but admitted that a Premier League move would be a ‘dream’ for him.
Matías Orozco, jugaría hoy su último partido con @DeportivoCaliCP para irse al futbol de Inglaterra está semana pic.twitter.com/6bxD4PQZX2
— DIEGO SAVIOLA (@diegosaviola10) August 23, 2026
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Orozo is one for the future rather than the here-and-now
There has been a growing clamour for Liverpool to sign a defensive midfielder since they were cut apart in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday, and that is Orozco’s primary position.
However, an 18-year-old who’s played just 28 senior matches (none in European football) shouldn’t be regarded as an immediate solution to one of the Reds’ biggest problems, but rather given the time to develop organically in the academy setup or with a loan move elsewhere to gain experience.
What’s needed at LFC is a robust number 6 option who’s already proven at a high level in Europe and who’d excel at breaking up opposition attacks so that the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have more licence to influence games further up the pitch.
Someone like Mamadou Sangare would’ve been ideal, but Brentford were quickest off the mark to bring him to the Premier League and, just one game into his English top-flight career, he already looks tailor-made for the division.
Orozco may well reach similar heights in future years, and Liverpool clearly see something in him if they’d send scouts to Colombia to keep watch on him, but it’d be asking a lot to burden him with instantly fixing a problem that Richard Hughes should’ve sought to remedy a lot sooner than now.
Orozco is a good midfielder
We need players Now and for the future.
But all we do is talk about it I would like to see some action instead of all this talk lets get back to winning ways and put a team in place to do that give Iraola a chance.
Bro we need a RW,DM,RB,LB,GK,
why i mention GK is because Alisson is going next season and gorgi is not good enough that is why and we a CB at least 1, bcs vvd,gomez,bradely is going next season, we have leoni,jacquet,ndukwe and araujo a option to buy
“Sangare would’ve been ideal, but Brentford were quickest off the mark to bring him to the Premier League”…Why were Brentford onto Sangare before us – Hughes? I have been saying on these forums for three seasons we need a robust, strong tackling defensive midfielder and the powers that be have just ignored this dire situation in the middle of the park year in and year out. I’m sorry to have to say this but the forward thinking of LFC Management is hopeless…players go for free that would have attracted massive sums if their contracts were handled more efficiently – we seem to buy lots and lots of younger future potential players that go to the academy but the promising ones are not blooded correctly and given enough chances to bloom.
Right now to compete we have to sell Tsimikas and buy someone to fight for the left back position with Kerkez. We have to sell Frimpong (he is physically not capable at EPL level) and buy a a replacement to cover for a young Leoni and continually injured Bradley and Gomez. We need a 6 as discussed/a proper already proven player. We need to either keep (not for me – I’m selling him/and not buying over rated and over priced Barcola) or sell him and buy a right winger, Mo has had speculation around his age/being sold/going for over two years/what have Edwards – Hughes done about this/NADA – nothing so here we are we still need a top right winger (why did we not buy Olise ahead of Bayern Munich?)…and yes we need a back uo for Isak until Ekitike comes good. I make that 6 that we need to buy. OK their might be younger cover in those areas – but they have not been blooded fully yet. Can someone explain to me why Trey Nyoni was not either a starter or given some time as a replacement against Newcastle (ok if he was carrying something slight/but if fit he shoud have been given game time). YNWA.
Absolutely. We just dither and dither while all the good options are swept from right under our noses. What’s happening to our recruitment team? Sitting on their asses? Ever since we missed out on Guehi we’ve been hesitant and indecisive while other clubs made their moves. I keep hearing of 17 and 18 year old players being signed “for the future”. But what about the here and now? We desperately need a DM, RB, RW. And a GK because next year Allison’s term is up. Marmadashvili just isn’t good enough. We’ve been chasing Barcola for WEEKS now, end result- NOTHING. What about Wharton? Exactly the player we need. Mbaye – what are we waiting for? Still bargaining for Minteh who’s got a long term injury – 3 months – and who is way more expensive than Mbaye. Crazy recruitment if you ask me. Iraola is a great manager but he needs the tools to work with. And if Richard Hughes and Co. don’t do something Iraola will want out, and that’s the last thing we need.