Liverpool battling Barcelona for Arne Slot favourite | OneFootball

Feyenoord's talented young right-back Givairo Read has attracted competing transfer interest from Barcelona and a Liverpool side led by his former manager Arne Slot, according to a report in Spain.

Read is a burgeoning prodigy. The Amsterdam-born defender made his debut in the Dutch third tier as a 15-year-old. Read had gatecrashed the top flight within a year and earned a move to Slot's Feyenoord side the summer after they won the Dutch title in 2023.

The current Liverpool boss handed Read his senior debut in European competition and has established himself as a first-team regular this term. Still only 18, the right-back's haul of six top-flight assists makes him the second-most creative defender in this year's Eredivisie.

This prodigious rise has attracted numerous admirers, including both Liverpool and Barcelona according to SPORT. The report from the Spanish outlet claims that Read is aware of interest from the La Liga leaders who are thought to be "closely monitoring" the right-footer.

Barcelona already have Jules Kounde as an established right-back option as well as academy graduate Hector Fort. Liverpool, by comparison, could be left with just Conor Bradley next season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold appears increasingly likely to join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires in June, despite Liverpool's attempts to persuade their homegrown academy graduate to stay on Merseyside. The Reds have previously been linked with Read's Feyenoord teammate Lutsharel Geertruida, who has been forced into a centre-back role in light of the teen's prominent rise.

Not everyone is so enamoured with Read.

Ronald Koeman pointedly left the 18-year-old out of the Netherlands squad for March's international break this month. When asked about his absence, the former Barcelona boss bluntly explained: "The name of Givairo Read has not crossed my mind. We are currently looking at other players. He is a young talent, so he is not yet ready for the Dutch national team."

Whether he is ready for Barcelona or Liverpool remains to be seen.