Liverpool Close on 16-Year-Old Spanish Midfielder - Report

Liverpool are edging towards a fifth summer signing, with the Mirror claiming the Merseyside club are close to signing Valencia teen Pedro Chirivella. The report claims the La Liga side want £3.5m for the 16-year-old but the Reds will offer only £2m and are willing to take their chances at an independent tribunal.

Chirivella graduated from Valencia's youth system and is highly-rated in Spain. Reports say the midfielder turned down a move to Spanish champions Barcelona in 2011 to remain with Valencia.

The Mirror also claims Liverpool were in the race to sign Chirivella's compatriot, Mario Rodriguez. However, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder has chosen to remain with Real Madrid and he has signed a four-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Like Chirivella, Rodriguez is very highly rated in his homeland and is a Spain U17 International.

Should the Reds manage to land Chirivella, he will be the third player to join from Spain, after Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto moved from Celta Vigo and Sevilla respectively.

Simon Mignolet Delighted after First Clean Sheet

Meanwhile, new Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet began his Anfield career with a clean sheet, after shutting out Preston North End in a pre-season match. At the other end, goals from Philippe Coutinho, Jordon Ibe, Raheem Sterling and Iago Aspas sealed a comfortable 4-0 victory for the Merseysiders.

"I'm very pleased to be out there, to play my first game and then to end up with a great result and a clean sheet. That's obviously what you want. Today we played in front of a full crowd. And that always makes it easier to play, especially if you play the way we did in the first half in front of the Kop and in front of our supporters," the Belgian international said.

Brendan Rodgers faces the Indonesian national side in his next friendly. The match will take place on 20 July in Jakarta, with the Asian country eager for a strong response after a 7-0 thrashing from Arsenal in their last match.