Liverpool are now said to have made a huge offer for Gilberto Mora, with separate reports in Mexico backing up claims that a record transfer is advancing.
The Reds have been around the 17-year-old for months. Previous reports had them making contact and sounding out a move.
Things now appear to have gone considerably further. There is even a suggestion Mora’s recent absence for Mexico was designed to protect the potential deal.
Liverpool offer said to be over $50m
Local journalist David Faitelson revealed the latest development live on TUDN. He says information from Tijuana is that Mora’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has brought them an offer from Liverpool.
That proposal would be worth more than $50m (€43m / £37m) to Xolos.
“I’ve been told in Tijuana that they received, through Gilberto Mora’s representative, Rafaela Pimenta, an offer from an English club, in this case Liverpool,” Faitelson said.
“It would be a historic figure, above $50m, for Xolos de Tijuana for Gilberto Mora, who turns 18 next week.”
ESPN Mexico have separately reported that several formal proposals have arrived at Tijuana. They don’t identify Liverpool as the club behind the most advanced one, and that’s an important distinction.
However, their information does back up some big parts of Faitelson’s story. ESPN say one proposal is already at an advanced stage. Talks involve Tijuana owner Jorgealberto Hank, Pimenta, the European club, Mora and his father.
They add that the deal would make Mora the most valuable sale in Mexican football history.
Mexico protecting Mora as transfer talks advance
There’s another interesting part to all of this. Mora recently left the Mexico camp despite apparently being available to face the United States.
ESPN say he trained normally and routine tests found nothing that should have stopped him playing. Rafael Márquez had even described him as eligible for the match.
He was then left out of the squad before returning to Tijuana. According to ESPN’s information, Mora left the camp to avoid an injury which could complicate his imminent move to Europe.
Faitelson has heard the same alarm bells. He believes Mexico weren’t going to take any unnecessary risks with a major transfer being negotiated.
“Do you think Rafael Márquez was going to risk him in the middle of negotiations, in a match that is physically demanding? Of course not,” he said.
“For me, Mora not playing on Saturday is an indication that the operation is moving forward and progressing.”
Mora turns 18 on October 14. ESPN say the transfer could move ahead once he reaches that age.
They don’t name his destination. Faitelson does, and he puts Liverpool right at the centre of what could become a record-breaking deal.
