NUNEATON, ENGLAND - Saturday, July 29, 2017: Liverpool's Under 23's manager Neil Critchley during a pre-season friendly between Liverpool and Coventry City at the Liberty Way Stadium. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Liverpool and Everton battling for teenage defender from England’s U20 World Cup squad – reports

Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton will go head-to-head in the January transfer window for Charlton Athletic’s young centre-back Ezri Konsa, say reports.

While the Reds are sorely in need of central defensive reinforcements, Konsa is just 19 and would perhaps be most likely to join up with Neil Critchley‘s U-23 squad.

The Reds were well-represented in the England setup at the Under-20 World Cup over the summer, with Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo playing squad roles and Dominic Solanke a key figure.

Solanke scored four times as England won the competition, winning the Golden Ball in the process.

Dominic Solanke (ENG), MAY 20, 2017 - Football / Soccer : 2017 FIFA U-20 Wolrd Cup Group A match between Argentina 0-3 England at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Suwon, South Korea. (Photo by Sho Tamura/AFLO SPORT)

Now the Mirror are reporting that the Reds, as well as rivals Everton, want to sign another member of that squad.

Konsa is a centre-back who also features on the right, and is a regular member in the matchday squad for the League One side.

Six appearances off the bench this term in league play attest to his involvement despite his youth, while he was a starter for most of 2016/17.

At the U20 World Cup, Konsa was a peripheral figure, an unused sub five times and making just one cameo appearance in the semi-finals against Italy.

Konsa signed a three-year contract in March of this year on improved terms as recognition for his performances last term.

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