Why Tomas Aranda Could Be the Next Name on Liverpool’s Watchlist

Liverpool’s recruitment operation rarely switches off, and the newest name doing the rounds is one most supporters will not have come across yet. According to the Argentine outlet El Intransigente, Boca Juniors forward Tomas Aranda has landed on Liverpool’s radar, with scouts reportedly tracking his progress ahead of a possible move in early 2027.

We think it is worth framing this correctly from the outset. This is not a done deal, nor is it close to one. It reads as early groundwork, the sort of file that recruitment staff build up over months before anyone at boardroom level gets involved. Andoni Iraola’s focus remains entirely on the here and now, but the background scouting never really stops at a club of Liverpool’s size, and that is exactly what this looks like.

A cut-price tag with strings attached

Per the report, Aranda’s current valuation sits at around nine million euros, which converts to roughly £7.7m at today’s rates. On paper, that is loose change in the modern transfer market, particularly for a player several clubs are said to be circling. Boca’s own coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena reportedly rates him highly and is simply waiting on medical clearance before bringing him back into his plans.

We would treat that valuation with a healthy dose of caution though. Release clauses and quoted figures for South American prospects have a habit of climbing sharply the moment European interest goes public, and this report makes clear that Boca are alert to exactly that dynamic. Their board is described as ready to push the price up rather than let a promising academy product leave on the cheap.

Plenty of company on the scouting trail

Liverpool are far from the only side paying attention. Inter Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Como are all named as clubs monitoring the situation, which tells its own story. When a level of interest like that builds around a teenager still finding his way back from injury, valuations rarely stay still for long, and Boca’s fanbase has already made clear they want their prospect kept close for now.

For us, that competition is actually the most telling detail in the whole story. Clubs do not send scouts to watch a player for no reason, and five sides from three different leagues taking an interest suggests there is genuine substance behind the hype, even if the numbers involved remain modest by Premier League standards.

Does this fit Liverpool’s long-term picture?

Where Aranda might appeal is his versatility. He is said to operate both through the middle and across the front line, which suits a squad-building approach that values forwards who can slot into more than one role. Liverpool have leaned into that kind of flexibility with recent additions, and a young South American attacker who can play off either flank or centrally would tick a box for the future rather than the present.

Our view is that this kind of move only makes sense if it is treated purely as a long-term project. Aranda is still building his case at senior level, his output has not yet matched the hype, and there is real risk in banking on potential alone, something Liverpool have been burned by before with similar profiles. That said, planning ahead of a problem rather than reacting to one has generally served the club well, and if the scouting reports are as positive internally as this suggests, there is little harm in keeping tabs on him now.

Nothing here points to an imminent bid, and a lot can shift between now and 2027 in terms of form, fitness and market value. But stories like this one are often worth filing away. Should Aranda kick on over the coming months, do not be surprised if this quiet scouting note turns into a much bigger conversation by the time next summer’s business rolls around.