Why Liverpool is the destiny of FC Groningen sensation David Texeira

Liverpool can feel confident a chatty Bruce Grobbelaar hasn't scuppered their deal for FC Groningen striker David Texeira.

Kenny Dalglish won't be best pleased with his former teammate after Grobbelaar dropped a big hint that Liverpool were chasing Texeira last week.

While the negotiations are now public, with the Uruguayan press insisting Texeira's agents are in Europe and locked in Liverpool talks, such is the 20 year-old's low profile, the Reds do appear to be getting a clear run at the young striker.

Liverpool football chief Damien Comolli identified Texeira as one to watch after an outstanding U20 World Championships with Uruguay last year. At the time, Texeira was still with Defensor Sporting and only moved to Groningen in August.

Indeed, that transfer wasn't planned, with Groningen only splashing out €1.45 million for Texeira after losing Tim Matavz. The 20 year-old arrived as a direct replacement and admits following the path of Reds star Luis Suarez is important to him.

"The people at the club have treated me well and the wait was rewarded. It was a dream for me to leave Uruguay for FC Groningen, which is a famous club in my country. Everyone knows what the club did for the careers of Luis Suarez and Bruno Silva. This is where it all started for them."

Comparisons with Suarez are inevitable, though Uruguayan pundits say Texeira plays more like Inter Milan striker Diego Forlan.

"Suarez and I were both born in the same town, Salto. Edinson Cavani also comes from there. It is a typical city of strikers. Of course, Suarez and Cavani are great examples for me."

Having Suarez and Sebastian Coates on the books - and a partnership agreement with Nacional de Montevideo - it's obvious Texeira's next destination will be Liverpool.

He actually spent his junior days as a Nacional player and was about to sign for them before an opportunity opened up for a then thirteen year-old Texeira with Argentine giants River Plate. By his own admission, he was too young to make the most of the move and was soon returning home to Uruguay to join Defensor Sporting.

"For me it was a dream come true to play for Nacional, but then came the opportunity to go to River and I did not think twice: I wanted to go to River at all costs.

"I only spent a short time there, but the experience served me well. I was very young, but I learned how to mix with new people."

Texeira says he owes his move to Europe to former Defensor coach Pablo Repetto, who gave him his first team debut as a 17 year-old.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the confidence he showed to play me as a starter with the first team. I played every game and I was able to score a lot of goals and show my qualities. This was how I came to the attention of European clubs and FC Groningen."
Now at Groningen, where he has scored eight goals in just 15 games in his first season in Europe, Texeira isn't prepared to settle and a move to Liverpool will suit his career ambitions.

"The arrival in Europe is a big step for me. I would like to further develop myself as a footballer and plan to go step by step. Wherever I go, I always try to get used to my surroundings as quickly as I can."

The Montevideo press say a deal could be struck before Tuesday's deadline. But FIFA's laws preventing players from moving to more than two clubs in the one season is likely to see any proposed transfer set down for the summer.

Comolli won't panic. Just as the presence of countryman Matías Jones convinced him about moving to Groningen, Texeira won't be tempted elsewhere given the growing Uruguayan influence - established by Comolli - at Anfield.