FC Barcelona’s 20-year-old linked with shock switch to Liverpool

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Meanwhile, Joe Gomez’s unreliability due to recurring fitness struggles means we simply cannot rely on him as a full-time solution.To address the centre-back crisis, Liverpool completed a season-long loan move for Ronald Araújo from Barcelona, bolstering the defensive options available to Andoni Iraola. While Araújo is a versatile top-class defender who can fill in at right-back if needed, the fact that young talents Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni have never played a single minute of Premier League football means Araújo is expected to be Virgil van Dijk’s primary partner in the middle.

That leaves him out of the equation for right-back duties, leaving us right back where we started.This brings us to the latest reports coming out of Spain. According to Sport, Liverpool are eyeing up a move for Barcelona’s 20-year-old defender Héctor Fort.Hailed as an "exceptional" talent by former Barcelona manager Xavi, Fort spent last season on loan at Elche.

While data from FotMob indicates he still rates uncomfortably low on core defensive metrics like tackles and interceptions, his ceiling and versatility capable of playing comfortably on both the right and left flanks make him a very intriguing prospect.A loan deal buys Liverpool crucial time while Connor Bradley recovers, without forcing the club into an immediate full-transfer commitment.A crowded race for the youngster's signatureWhile Liverpool’s interest is clear, we aren't the only ones watching. However, reports suggest that our Merseyside rivals Everton might actually "present the most attractive offer for all parties" if they can guarantee him immediate starting minutes.Going back a couple of seasons, Fort was viewed inside La Masia as the absolute future at right-back for Barcelona.