Liverpool transfers: Reds to beat United in race for Spanish forward

Liverpool look set to beat Manchester United to the transfer of Spanish forward Pinchi.

The 22-year-old, whose full name is Óscar Francisco García Quintela, is closer to signing for the Reds than for their Old Trafford rivals – said the Express.

His contract is due to expire in less than six months and so Liverpool will only have to pay a compensation fee to his club Deportivo La Coruna.

This move comes as a surprise considering Pinchi has only played eight minutes of first team football this season, featuring instead for their B team.

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With six goals in 22 matches, the youngster has displayed some potential, but not enough to explain why Premier League clubs are competing with each other for his signature.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp obviously sees enough in the attacker to excite him and this could become a rare low-risk, high-reward situation that comes off.

A similar move would be that of Ayoze Perez from Tenerife to Newcastle United. Perez was expected to go into the development side, but Alan Pardew made swift use of the tricky attacker once he saw his true potential.

This isn’t the type of blockbuster move that Reds fans would be wanting after the sale of Philippe Coutinho, but it is more evidence of a scouting department who is prepare to do the hard yards and look for unpolished gems.

While that certainly plays a part in the long term health of the club and its academy, Liverpool also need to sign first team ready players who can make a positive impact straight away.

Kopp neglected to do that in the January transfer window and big things are expected of him and the owners over the summer.

Next: This is the back four we want to see against Porto

A new goalkeeper, a Coutinho replacement and perhaps another striker will all be high on the wish list, as with another midfielder if Emre Can departs.