'Killer' Liverpool striker on Celtic radar

Daniel Pacheco is being tipped for a summer loan move to Parkhead from Liverpool, with interim boss Neil Lennon reportedly having had the player watched.

Neil Lennon's list of rumoured summer targets continues to grow with Liverpool forward Daniel Pacheco the latest to be linked with a switch to Scotland. The Spanish under-19 international, who started his career with Barcelona, is tipped to move to Celtic on a season-long loan next term.

5ft 6in striker Pacheco, nicknamed 'killer' for his predatory instincts in front of goal, was taken from the Catalan club's youth academy as a 16-year-old in 2007, following in the footsteps of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique in leaving Spain to move to England before their 18th birthday.

Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon is believed to have had Pacheco watched in Liverpool's reserve side, with the player, who can operate as a striker or an attacking midfielder, a regular goalscorer for John McMahon's side.

Pacheco has made three appearances for the Reds, all this term. He made his debut as a substitute for Rafael Benitez's side's 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina in the Champions League group stages in December.

Sub showings against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Unirea Urziceni followed, with the young forward replacing Liverpool's £20 million summer signing Alberto Aquilani on all three occasions.

He made a telling contribution in the game against Unirea when, after coming off the bench in the 75th minute, he headed a cross back across goal to set up fellow striker David N'Gog for the match winning goal nine minutes from time.

The 19-year-old was highly thought of at Barcelona, who were upset at losing their starlet to England before they had the opportunity to sign him on a professional contract.

Born in Malaga, Pacheco has represented Spain at four youth age levels, working his way up through the under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 groups.

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