Liverpool put on red alert with £130m star potentially available on a free transfer, Klopp is 'obsessed'

Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly among the clubs keeping an eye on the contract situation of Barcelona star Gavi ahead of a possible transfer this summer.

The 18-year-old is one of the latest Barca youth academy products to have achieved success in the first team, and has been a regular in Xavi's side over the past two seasons.

Gavi's idol is PSG star Marco Verratti, and he has also been compared to Italy legend Francesco Totti in the past.

The midfielder is currently signed to Barca on a youth team contract, which has caused the Spanish giants a number of key issues.

He is not a part of the senior squad, and is officially a member of the reserve squad. However, he can play for the first team.

Barca offered Gavi a new four-year deal back in September 2022, with the proposal of a buyout clause of €1 billion and the number six shirt on the table. Due to Spanish regulations, players signed to youth team contracts must wear a shirt number that is 26 or higher.

However, Les Cules could not finalise the contract due to their current financial situation. The Athletic report that there was a clause inserted in the deal that stated Gavi could leave as a free agent if he was not registered as a first team player by June 30.

That can only be done in a transfer window, however, and the same source adds that Barcelona sought a legal ruling which would allow them to register Gavi. Due to a legal injunction imposed by a Barcelona court, they were briefly able to do so.

La Liga then claimed that Barca submitted papers for a separate legal case over the contract too late, and a court agreed in their favour earlier this week. Gavi is now registered on a youth contract once again.

All this means that the midfielder could leave as a free agent if the Spanish giants are not successful in their appeal against the decision, although they claim there has been no wrongdoing from their side.

Liverpool, Man City keen on Gavi

According to The Times, both Liverpool and Manchester City are tracking developments regarding Gavi's contract situation.

Both clubs have been linked with the midfielder in the past, and it would be hard to recall many better deals than the signing of one of football's biggest young talents on a free transfer. CIES claim Gavi has a market value of £130 million.

The Spaniard would arguably slot in to every team in world football, and Spanish radio station El Nacional claimed last April that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had 'become obsessed' with securing a move for the midfielder.

A deal for Gavi as a free agent would certainly save Liverpool a lot of money as they look to add more quality to their midfield ahead of next season - and perhaps allow them to focus on a move for Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.