Chelsea and Liverpool send scouts to watch 17-year-old wonderkid dubbed 'Serbian Lionel Messi' amid transfer interest: Reports
According to reports from TEAMtalk, Premier League juggernauts Chelsea and Liverpool have sent scouts to watch rising Red Star Belgrade starlet Andrija Maksimovic. The 17-year-old attacker has caught the attention of top European sides with his impressive play in the 2024-25 campaign.
Maksimovic's first taste of senior football came when he was sent on dual registration (loan) to Serbian second-division side Graficar Beograd (2023-24 season). Just 16, he bagged nine goals and three assists in 29 appearances for the club.
On the conclusion of his dual registration in September 2024, he was immediately integrated into Crvena Zvezda's first team. He has bagged two goals and four assists in 12 appearances this season, announcing himself as one of Serbian football's brightest young prospects.
Due to his immense talent, Maksimovic has been nicknamed the "Serbian Lionel Messi". Naturally, he has drawn interest from world-class European sides from the Serie A, the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
On November 4, TEAMtalk revealed that Liverpool and Chelsea upped their pursuit of the 17-year-old a notch by sending scouts to watch him in action. It was later revealed that they are not the only teams to do so, with sources close to the player providing more information about his future.
Maksimovic's camp, which mostly consists of his family, reportedly believes that the youngster could play for Real Madrid one day. They consider him one of the top prospects in world football and will likely take some convincing to agree upon a transfer.
With Crvena Zvezda tying Maksimovic down to a contract until 2027 in September, they hold the cards in terms of any negotiations over a potential move. They are hopeful of holding on to their prized asset until the summer of 2025 and receive a hefty sum if Liverpool or Chelsea come calling.
When reported Liverpool and Chelsea target Andrija Maksimovic made claim about Lamine Yamal before UCL clash vs Barcelona
Red Star Belgrade wonderkid Andrija Maksimovic had set out a challenge for Lamine Yamal before his side's Champions League clash against Barcelona.
The 17-year-old, who is reportedly a top transfer target for Liverpool and Chelsea, showcased his confidence in his abilities while speaking at the pre-match press conference (November 5). He said (via Barca Blaugranes):
"We [Yamal and him] met up at the European Championship. A brilliant player... We're the same age, tomorrow I'll go out and show that I'm better than him [Yamal]."
Maksimovic showcased some of his skills in his 72 minutes on the pitch but he could not prevent his side from going down 5-2 on the night. Although Yamal finished without a goal contribution despite playing the full 90 minutes, he linked up well with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in attack.
Both the 17-year-olds are important players for their respective sides and are expected to play starring roles in their upcoming Champions League fixtures. Maksimovic's next UCL match-up is against Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart while Yamal is gearing up to take on high-flyers Stade Brestois (both games will take place on November 27).