Name: Lauri Dalle Valle
Date of Birth: 14th September 1991
Position: Striker
Club: Liverpool
Previous clubs: JIPPO
International caps(goals): Finland U16 2(3)
Finland U17 7(4)
Finland U19 8(3)
Pacey, athletic and with a deadly eye for goal Dalle Valle has got Liverpool coaches licking their lips at the potential he has.
When at previous side JIPPO he spent three months on trial at Inter, but didn't want to move to Italy full time and he moved back to the Finnish side before joining Liverpool, the Reds beating Chelsea and numerous other top European sides to his signature on a three and a half year deal, which included a million pound signing on fee.
After arriving Dalle Valle took up the mantel as chief goal getter for Liverpool U18's netting an amazing twenty times in twenty eight appearances, including eight in the Youth Cup as Liverpool made the final.
The hitman has had a taste of senior action, playing eight games, scoring once, in 2007 for JIPPO before a serious injury put him out of action for months. Although he has yet to appear for Liverpool's first team he is part of the reserve squad.
Steve Claridge is among a number of people who have likened the striker to Kop legend Fernando Torres, and he will be hoping that he can progress to a player who is in the same league as Torres. Claridge also stated how he was impressed how the youngster led the line, never gave the ball away, brought his teammate into play and made fantastic runs off the ball both chasing defenders and looking at making runs behind.
Liverpool scout Ian Brannigan has stated that he feels Dalle Valle is the 'most natural finisher to ever be involved with the Liverpool academy', high praise when you consider both Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen came through the Reds system.
A bad injury in this seasons opening academy game kept him out for five months, but the hitman returned eight days ago and scored his first Liverpool hat trick as the Reds thrashed Leicester 5-1 at the Walkers Stadium.