Rafael Benitez believes that his latest South American import, Argentinean teenager Emiliano Insua, could make a big impact at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager snatched the 17-year-old from under the noses of several top European clubs and the left-back will start an 18-month loan deal from Boca Juniors in January.
Many of Benitez's foreign signings have found it difficult to adapt to the rigours of Premiership football and whereas many of the foreign youngsters signed by Benitez in his two-and-a-half-year reign at Anfield have yet to make a breakthrough into the senior squad, he has high hopes that Insua will succeed in making an impression on the senior side.
Benitez said: 'He arrives in January and will be on an 18-month loan with an option for us to sign him permanently. He's just 17, 18 in January, and is already in [Argentina's] Under-20 national team. That means he is a very good player, being used by Argentina in much older age groups already.'
But Benitez is also wary of the need to allow the youngster to become familiar with his new environment.
Benitez continued: 'The question is how quickly he can settle down here. The first thing is to make sure Insua is settled properly in England. How quickly he progresses depends on him. He will take part in some games with the first team when he arrives to see how he is developing.
'Everyone knows how difficult the Premier League is, he will need time but he will be a consideration. We could have signed a player who is 19 or 20 and he may have more experience, but I believe Insua has the potential to make an impression here.'
The deal is believed to be costing the Merseyside club an initial £1million with further payments as Insua progresses through the ranks.
