Roy Keane has already told Liverpool why they must complete £21m January deal

Liverpool are reportedly lining up a move for England’s newest star in January with the player already lauded by Roy Keane. The Three Lions beat Finland 2-0 in their National League clash last week, with captain Harry Kane stealing the show by striking twice on the night he won his 100th cap.

But he isn’t the only player to impress, with Lille youngster Angel Gomes excelling in midfield on his first senior start at international level.

Gomes, 24, has spent four years at Lille after taking the decision to leave the Manchester United academy in 2020, and is now firmly established as a first team regular with the Ligue 1 club.

And he showed just why at Wembley, accomplished on the ball and also disrupting the visitors with his pressing when not in possession. His performance led to high praise from Keane, who was on duty as a pundit for ITV.

“He was impressive and so busy,” he said of the London born player, before adding the display had presented a selection problem for interim boss Lee Carsley. The endorsement from Keane, considered one of the best holding midfielders in Premier League history, is particularly significant.

He was backed in his analysis by Ian Wright, who added: “He’s constantly available. There’s great options (for England). There will probably be a bit of a headache for the manager.”

According to Football Insider, Liverpool scouts closely watched the under-17 World Cup winner on his England bow. It follows a frustrating summer transfer window for the club, who missed out on main midfield target Martin Zubamendi after he opted to stay at Real Sociedad.

The speculation is timely after Liverpool’s midfield ran into problems during a lacklustre home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Dominik Szoboszlai was sloppy in possession while Ryan Gravenberch, who has previously appeared revitalised under Arne Slot, was noticeably off the pace.

While out in France, Gomes has been lauded for his versatility and ability to play the holding role or in a more advanced position. And the fact he is out of contract in the summer means he is a more than affordable option for FSG.

According to transfermarkt, he’s rated at just £21million. But with Newcastle and Tottenham also being linked with a January move, the Reds may be forced to pay more than that in order to land their new target.

Before his England debut, Gomes opened up on why he opted to leave Old Trafford after three years as a youngster. “I was looking for more playing time, more consistency and a plan for my future,” he said. “I came to LOSC, who offered me a good structure and a good project.”