Sources: Gilberto Mora exit date set as Liverpool chase deal
Liverpool target Gilberto Mora is increasingly likely to leave Tijuana and move to a European club next summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The Reds are long-term admirers of the 17-year-old starlet, but it is expected to be "difficult" for them to strike a deal for him in January.
Competition for the attacking midfielder's signature is growing with every passing week, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich all keen to snap him up.
Sources say that Mexican outfit Tijuana intend to cash in on their starlet at the end of the season, when they believe his stock will be at its highest.
Mora penned a new three-year contract with his boyhood club just before the World Cup, which has put them in a strong position to negotiate a deal on their terms.
The starlet already has five goals and one assist from just seven games in Liga MX this season, and is viewed as one of the brightest young talents in world football.
Liverpool have waited patiently for Gilberto Mora
Football Insider revealed back in July that it was set to be an "open race" for Mora's signature in the next 12 months, but Liverpool are firmly within that battle.
The Reds have known about the youngster since his first burst onto the scene for Tijuana back in 2024-25, and have been keeping tabs on his progress ever since.
Mora was one of the breakout stars of the World Cup, but his club were crucially protected from any transfer interest by the fact that he is yet to turn 18.
South American players cannot move to Europe until after their 18th birthday, but that will be no such problem for Liverpool next summer, with Mora turning 18 on 14 October.
The Reds have waited patiently for the chance to secure the starlet, and are now set to see the door opened by Tijuana next summer.
The Mexican side have been waiting for the right moment to cash in, and they view that as the perfect chance to maximise their profit.
Liverpool closely scouting Alieu Saine
Football Insider also revealed on Monday that Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Gambian starlet Alieu Saine, as part of their ongoing efforts to snap up leading young talent from around the world.
The 16-year-old winger dazzled at the recent WAFU Zone A U-17 tournament, where he helped Gambia's U17 national team win the competition.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United had scouts watching Saine at the tournament, while several of Europe's other leading clubs were also in attendance, including Benfica and Celta Vigo.
Saine finished as the joint top goalscorer with four goals in five games, and has since been invited to train with Gambia's senior national team.