Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. REUTERS

Kenny Dalglish has confirmed he is interested in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira, with the Liverpool manager continuing in his aim of signing the world's best youngsters.

Dalglish has made his intentions clear since taking over the Anfield club in January last year to create long term success for the club as well as a short term goal of challenging for a Champions League spot once more.

And while Liverpool have outlayed over £100 million on new senior squad members in the last 12 months, the side have also moved to sign some of the most in-demand youngsters, with lower league starlets Jordan Ibe and Seyi Ojo already making permanent moves to the club.

Ibe in particular was a big coup for the Merseyside club, with the 16 year old shining for the Wycombe Wanderers senior side, and scoring on his first full debut for the club.

Liverpool are also currently trialing Ghanian midfielder Mumuni Abubakar, and the 18 year old told reporters yesterday as his month-long spell at the club came to an end: "Hopefully Liverpool will sign me."

With that in mind, The Reds have now confirmed they are chasing Teixeira, who impressed against Liverpool's youngsters for Lisbon in the nextGen series.

"There might be something about that," Dalglish said when asked about Teixeira.

But the manager refused to insinuate that he might put Teixeira straight into the senior side, adding: "He's only a kid."

Liverpool haven't always been able to land the youngsters on their wish list; while the side admitted in December that they were in the running to sign Irish youngster Rory Donnelly, the Cliftonville FC star chose to make the move to Swansea instead in favour of more game time.

Liverpool also achieved new ground in coming to an agreement with South American side Nacional, where they purchased Sebastian Coates last summer, to have first refusal on young players showing potential in the Uruguayan side.

The club are said to be tabling a bid worth £850,000 for Teixeira, and hope to have the 19 year old on their side the next time the Reds face Sporting Lisbon.