It’s not just about immediate contributors for Liverpool, also trying to sign some of the brightest young talents in Europe, beginning with Mario Rodriguez, a 16-year old from Real Madrid.

According to the Marca, Liverpool are the next Premier League club attempting to poach a Spanish teenager due to his lack of professional status with his parent club in order to improve the situation of their youth ranks, but despite offering more than double the salary Real Madrid have offered him, the youngster, who has appeared once for the Spanish U-16 side, decided to remain in Spain.

It’s not over as far as Liverpool are concerned, but now they will have to pay money instead of picking him up for free. Rodriguez, a striker that has been noted for his technical ability and creativity with the ball is originally from Barcelona, but his early days on the football pitch have led him to their biggest rivals.

Rodriguez isn’t the only Spanish youngster Liverpool are following, keeping a close eye on Sergio Canos from Barcelona, some even reporting that they’ve managed to sign him, and Pedro Chirivella from Valencia, a central midfielder who has often been compared to Sergio Busquets and is one of Spain’s most regarded young prospects.

The difference in rules between Spain and England allow Premier League clubs to try and sign the best talents the La Liga clubs, known for their excellent academies, for absolutely nothing. Barcelona are leading an attempt to change these regulations, hoping to block the constant poaching from Premier League clubs, able to offer more money to young Spanish players.