Forget Mateus Mane: Meet the Liverpool gem ready to become the next generation's Hugo Ekitike - opinion

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Liverpool are set to face off with reported transfer target Mateus Mane twice in one week when they play Wolves in the Premier League and FA Cup.After impressing in a Championship-bound side, Mane was linked to Liverpool back in the January transfer window.It was then reported last month that Manchester United had entered the race. Photo Credit: Getty Images/James Gill/Danehouse/Julian Finney Where is Keyrol Figueroa from?Figueroa was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, but has US citizenship and began his youth career on the books of MLS side FC Dallas.In the summer of 2018, he swapped North America for England, signing for Liverpool on a free transfer.He is now representing the United States at youth level, scoring 10 goals in 20 matches across all competitions.What position does Keyrol Figueroa play?Like Mane, Figueroa is primarily a striker but has been used in a couple of positions across the forward line.He has played 24 games as an out-and-out centre-forward, but has been equally effective on the left and right wings.Keyrol Figueroa Liverpool statsUnfortunately, the 19-year-old suffered an injury in mid-February and has missed Liverpool’s last three U21 matches.Prior to that, however, Figueroa was closing in on Harry Wilson’s record for most goals scored by a Reds youngster in a U21 Premier League 2 season (12).He currently has 11 goals after 14 appearances in the competition this term.

Pick your favourite modern Liverpool legend… Two icons of the Klopp era 🔴🙌 Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for Liverpool The Liverpool strikers Figueroa looks up toU18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has previously explained how the teenager can excel when drifting in a slightly wider role.He said: “Figgy played down the middle and he started OK, but then we moved him to the side and he had a good effect still playing as a forward, but a little bit wider.“He can play both roles, he can score goals and create moving forwards. There are lots of things that he can do, whether he plays in the middle or slightly off one side.”The player himself has also previously admitted to looking up to several former top Liverpool strikers.He said: “I watched Luis Suarez as well.

Daniel Sturridge as well when he was at Liverpool. Those are the types of players that I looked up to.”While players like Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres were great talents for Figueroa to look up to, he should now be aiming to become the next Hugo Ekitike and become Liverpool’s second/third-choice striker in the coming years, rather than Mane.It would certainly save Liverpool money on transfer fees and add another exciting Academy gem to the first team alongside Rio Ngumoha.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox