Who is Gabriel Mec? Liverpool transfer target called 'best since Ronaldinho'

Liverpool has been credited with transfer interest in Gabriel Mec; the teenage wonderkid has represented Brazil at youth level and will soon be eligible to move

Gabriel Mec has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool(Image: Jurij Kodrun - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Liverpool is said to be plotting its next piece of youth recruitment.

Gabriel Mec, an exciting teenager from Brazil, has made it onto the transfer radar. While the Reds' big-spending transfer window caught the headlines, the investment in U18 stars has arguably been the bigger trend over the past few years. Indeed, the summer splurge was part-funded by the massive multiplier sales of Ben Gannon-Doak and Harvey Elliott (if the loan does indeed become permanent), previously poached from Celtic and Fulham respectively.

The summer prior, fellow Fulham recruit Fabio Carvalho generated a big profit. And the policy shows little signs of slowing down; Rio Ngumoha is the latest to make it to the fringes of the Liverpool first team, having arrived from Chelsea's youth ranks, while Trey Nyoni is also not far away.

It's not a coincidence that most of the recent raids have been on British clubs.

Since Brexit, these are the only places where Liverpool and other Premier League teams can shop for talent under the age of 18.

Unlike other clubs, Liverpool does not have a feeder team to help circumvent these rules (although Michael Edwards is working on it). But Mec could potentially get the all-clear to come to Anfield, provided the Reds can win the competition for his signature.

Gabriel Mec featured for Brazil at the U17 World Cup (Image: Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

That's because the first thing to know about Mec is that he turns 18 in April. In theory, he will be free to sign for Liverpool next summer.

Various other rules and regulations still apply, and Liverpool would need to show that Mec ticks all of the right boxes for a permit. But his growing standing in the game means that a move would not be impossible.

Mec wore the number 10 for the Brazil U17 team at the recent World Cup. Compared by many to Vinicius Jr, he is also considered the best talent to emerge from Gremio since Ronaldinho.

Extremely two-footed, Mec is a fast and agile dribbling winger who also has an eye for a pass. He has been with Gremio since the age of nine, progressing through various youth levels and contributing to titles along the way.

As is often the case with Brazilian talent, foreign interest has come before the teenager has even established himself in his club's first team. Mec has previously been in talks about a move to Chelsea, but per Nicolo Schira, Liverpool is now on the scene too.

The player himself appears in no rush to make the move. He has spoken about wanting to make a name for himself at Gremio first.

And that's an ambition supported by his first professional contract, which runs through 2027. A release clause of around $53 million (£39.5 million) is thought to be in place.

But once European interest kicks in, it is typically a matter of when as opposed to if. And while Liverpool's scouting team would no doubt benefit from seeing how Mec holds his own in the senior Brazilian top flight, it will be wary of more competition and more expense with every successful milestone.

From what Liverpool has been able to see so far, it's an undeniably positive picture. If there is a deal to be struck ahead of next summer, there's every chance that it would be worth the gamble.

For now, that outcome remains some way off. But if nothing else, Gabriel Mec could be a name to remember.