Liverpool are considering moves for four Barcelona academy players, according toSpanish publicationSport.
The quartet includes defenders Marlon Santos and Nili Perdomo, midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum and forward Marc Cardona, and Sport claims Liverpool's scouts have frequently watched all four and are plotting to lure them away from La Masia, Barcelona's prestigious football academy.
Kaptoum is the only player in the four to make first-team appearances for Barcelona, making his debut in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusenbefore scoring in a Copa Del Rey semi final against Valencia.
Centre-back Marlon is currently on loan at Barcelona from Brazilian side Fluminense, having made over 50 appearances for his parentclub. Right-back Nili previously played for La Liga side Las Palmas, making nine league appearances before signing for Barcelona after his contract expired.
Striker Marc Cardona signed for Barcelona during the summer from Atletico Sanlequeno, and is part of the four reportedly watched by Liverpool's chief Spanish and Portuguese scout over recent weeks.
La Masia has developed some of Europe's finest footballing talents in recent years, with current Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta graduating from the prestigious institution while current Premier League players Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Bojan are also part of the academy's alumni.
While Barcelona have mainly kept their finest players at the club in their academy, they have still seen the likes of Fabregas, Hector Bellerin and Gerard Pique make their names in England havingslipped through the cracks in Spainand subsequently moveto rival academies.
Fabregas rejoined Barcelona for three years after a successful stay with Arsenal, while Pique has become a mainstay in the Barca since leaving Manchester United in 2008. Arsenal right-back Bellerin has been consistently linked with a return to Spain since breaking into the Gunners' first-team.