Liverpool has reportedly made an inquiry about highly rated Palmeiras youngster Erick Bele, but faces competition from European soccer rivals Paris Saint-Germain

Liverpool has seemingly been eager to bolster its recruitment of young talent from South America for quite some time, and its interest in players from the region attests to that.

It's something Chelsea has done quite effectively in recent years with the likes of Estevao. That said, Liverpool did recently beat the London club in the race to sign Colombian starlet Samuel Martinez.

Now, Palmeiras attacking midfielder Erick Bele is the name making headlines, with clubs across Europe rumored to be vying for his signature. According to a report from Sport Witness, the Reds have made official inquiries about the 19-year-old.

The report claims the Brazilian outfit is prepared to start negotiations in the region of £25 million ($33 million). European rival Paris Saint-Germain has also been credited with interest in the player.

Bele was born in Flores da Cunha, southern Brazil, and initially played youth football at Juventude. In 2018, he joined Palmeiras at the age of 11, and so far he has made only a handful of first-team appearances.

The majority of his football has been played at youth level. For the club's under-20 side, Bele has made just shy of 50 appearances, with 20 goals and five assists from attacking midfield.

He has also represented Brazil at the youth level, receiving his first under-20 call-up for the national team in 2025. In his 10 caps so far, Bele has scored two goals.

Bele was due to be out of contract this year but has only recently extended his deal with Palmeiras. The renewal will take him through to 2031 and, if a move is possible, ensure his club receives a fee and is compensated for his development.

One aspect of Bele's game Liverpool will certainly appreciate is his versatility. While he is a left-footed attacking midfielder, he can also operate as both a right winger and a left winger.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has made versatility a key factor in compiling his squad, with Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz, and Rio Ngumoha among the players operating in different roles.

The report from Sport Witness does claim Liverpool's discussions with Palmeiras took place before his contract renewal earlier this month. Italian side Parma reportedly tried to sign Bele on loan in the summer but saw its approach rebuffed.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool, or PSG for that matter, steps up its interest in the coming months.

For now, it appears that both clubs are content to monitor his progress in Brazil, especially since his first-team minutes at Palmeiras have been limited so far.