Liverpool had bid rejected for 'extraordinary' wonderkid before Federico Chiesa transfer

Liverpool made just two signings in the recent transfer window, with Federico Chiesa the only player it purchased who is part of the squad for Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge. Reports from Denmark, however, have suggested the Reds also made a bid for a young attacker this summer.

The player in question is Dario Osorio, a Chilean winger who plays for FC Midtjylland. It has been claimed by that tabled a bid of 75 million Danish Kroner ($11m/£8m/€10m) for the 20-year-old.

Are the Reds trying to build a South American empire? They have players from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in their squad already, after all. Osorio did not join the likes of , , and this summer, but could he be an option for the future?

A bid this summer would’ve come under the category of opportunistic, the word used to describe Liverpool’s transfer strategy by at . Osorio only joined Midtjylland at the start of last season and is under contract under 2028.

Equally, he is valued at $8m (£6m/€7m) by Transfermarkt, so the reported bid looks to have been fair value for a largely unproven youngster. Inexperienced or not, the Chilean starlet would be a versatile addition to Slot’s squad.

Osorio made 18 starts last season: 12 in left midfield or on that wing, five on the opposite flank and one as an attacking midfielder, delivering nine goals and two assists. In the early weeks of this season he has been focussed strictly on the right. His goal against Hoffenheim in the Europa League suggests he can perform against big league teams if given the chance.

The youngster has also made 13 appearances for Chile, scoring in a friendly against France in March. , who played in that match, can presumably vouch for his effectiveness.

Assuming the right wing is the role Liverpool has earmarked for him, there could soon be a lot of competition for that spot. As well as Chiesa, Mohamed Salah is obviously the current incumbent while Ben Doak looks to be the young option. But then if Salah’s contract is not renewed – through his decision or Hughes’s – then suddenly the picture shifts significantly.

The opportunistic bid this year failed. If Osorio continues his development at good pace in 2024/25, it might be time for a more serious move next summer. Liverpool supporters will want to keep an eye on the young Chilean this term.