https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...r-Liverpool-starlet-branded-new-Van-Dijk.html
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Despite being just 17-years-old, Liverpool starlet Ki-jana Hoever is making heads turn at an alarming rate.
After helping Holland surge into the semi-finals of the Under-17 World Cup with a sublime solo effort goal, the versatile defender is now bidding to go one better and lead his nation to glory.
As Holland prepare to face Mexico in the semis with all eyes on Hoever, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the boy people are already labeling 'the new Virgil van Dijk.'
Upon discovering the mercurial talent of the Amsterdam-born starlet, Liverpool wasted no time at all in securing his services.
Prior to the Reds taking on Hoever in the summer of 2018, the club's chief scout Barry Hunter had been deployed to the Dutch capital on numerous occasions to watch Hoever in action with the famed Ajax academy.
Hoever and his family were quickly invited to Merseyside where they met Hunter, Academy director Alex Inglethorpe and other key members of staff before being shown around the club's academy base in Kirkby.
Given Hoever's age, Liverpool only had to part with around €100,000 (£90,000) to cover compensation costs with Ajax and secure a deal. A vision was sold to the teen of a willingness at Anfield to put faith in youth, with Trent Alexander-Arnold being held up as the prime example.
Despite being just 16 upon arrival, Hoever impressed immediately in the Liverpool U18 set-up, and was rapidly accelerated into the U19s after playing at a level comfortably above his older peers.
An immediately noticeable trait in the youngster was a complete versatility across the back line, impressing in both full-back positions as well as central defence.
By late November 2018 Hoever was deemed ready for his full Premier 2 debut, after acclimatising seamlessly to the English game.
Liverpool Under-23s faced local rivals Everton at Goodison, giving Hoever a taste of things to come. He played the full 90 minutes at right wing-back as the Reds triumphed 1-0 and earned rave reviews.
The spotlight was soon to shine at its most intense, however, as Jurgen Klopp included the Dutchman in his squad for last season's FA Cup visit to Wolves in January - during which he became Liverpool's youngest ever player to turn out in the competition after coming on to replace the injured Dejan Lovren after just six minutes.
Since,
Hoever has been a permanent fixture around the Liverpool first team camp, regularly training with the stars who currently top the Premier League by eight points. One session saw Hoever chosen to solely dedicate himself to marking Mohamed Salah, to which he did with aplomb and displayed a high degree of maturity.
Klopp's most recent pre-season plans saw Hoever included at each turn, with the defender also both featuring and scoring for the senior side this season during the Carabao Cup victory over MK Dons with a bullet header from a James Milner cross.
The U17 World Cup, where Hoever currently remains, saw the teen unable to play the following Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal - which Liverpool won on penalties following a 5-5 thriller.
Hoever role's in Holland's 4-1 over Paraguay rocketed his nation into the World Cup semis with a 4-1 win.
A skillful run from right-back saw Hoever leave opponents in his wake, before rattling the back of the net to break the deadlock on 30 minutes.
An unfortunate yellow card against Paraguay - his second of the tournament - means the 17-year-old will miss the semi-final clash with Mexico through suspension, though will return to the final should Holland progress.
If his nation go on to win the prestigious trophy, Hoever will join fellow Liverpool youth star Rhian Brewster in becoming a world champion on the grandest stage in youth football.[/article]
