Gabriel Martinelli has hailed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as "one of the best tacticians in the world".
The Arsenal wonderkid, who according to Football Insider, is a surprise transfer target for the Premier League leaders after impressing on his first ever visit to Anfield earlier in the season.
After netting twice in an entertaining 5-5 draw in the Carabao Cup back in October, Klopp hailed Martinelli as a generational talent.
"That’s really difficult to deal with these guys," he told Liverpool's official website.
"Martinelli’s pretty much the same age [as Liverpool defender Sepp Van De Berg] but he’s a talent of the century, he's an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult.
"Then you have Mesut Ozil around and Willock right, who scored by the way a really nice one, so a team like Arsenal in a counter-attacking mood – we keep them deep, play around them, we lose the ball and then it’s really difficult."
And Martinelli has now responded to such praise.
"I feel very proud that one of the best tacticians in the world speaks well of me," he told Marca.
"Now I have to remain firm, focused and continue working to achieve greater things."
Liverpool aren't the only team to have been linked with a move for the 18-year-old in recent weeks.
Okdiario claim La Liga leaders Real Madrid are sending scouts to London to monitor the teenager's performances and have apparently been encouraged by Martinelli's recent dig at Arsenal for blocking him from accepting an U23 call-up by Brazil.
However, Martinelli insists he's focused on the Gunners.
"No, nothing has come to me," he told Marca when asked if contact from the Spanish giants had been made.
"I am focused here doing my job at Arsenal and my head is here."
