Liverpool and Manchester City have been named among several clubs showing interest in Serbia and Red Star Belgrade midfielder Andrija Maksimovic.

Maksimovic, who was born in 2007, recently became Serbia’s youngest ever player when he made his senior international debut during Saturday’s UEFA Nations League win over Switzerland.

The 17-year-old started the season on fire on dual registration terms with second tier side Graficar Beograd and was recalled by Red Star following the September international break. He has played only four times in the top flight and once in the Champions League but was part of the October squad chosen by national team coach Dragan Stojkovic and clearly has a bright future.

Patrick Berger of Sky Sport Germany has reported that Liverpool and City are part of a group of sides alongside Juventus and Borussia Dortmund with eyes on Maksimovic.

Nobody is thought to have made a concrete approach as yet, but Red Star are tipped to ask for at least €15m (£12.5m) to part company with the youngster, whose contract runs until 2027.

Already in his career, Maksimovic has drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi due to his dribbling ability, although there is little physically similar between the players. His league starts since breaking into the Red Star first-team have come on the right flank, as a winger and full-back. But he did line up from the start as a ‘number 10’ when the Serbian giants faced Inter in Europe.

Maksimovic replaced striker Aleksandar Mitrovic when he came off the bench against Switzerland, with Serbia already leading 2-0 at the time.

Earlier in the season, Maksimovic was operating as a winger or ‘number 10’ for Graficar, racking up three goals and two assists in five games before being recalled.

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