According to a recent report by Correio de Manha, Sporting CP are prepared to cash in on their captain Bruno Fernandes with Liverpool showing interest in acquiring him during the January transfer period. The same source has also revealed that the Portuguese giants are going through some financial struggles which means that they could be forced to sell their skipper for a cut-price fee in the summer even though Fernandes has a high release clause of £90m in his current contract with Sporting CP.
The 24-year-old grew up playing football back in his homeland and started his football career at Boavista. He came through the youth ranks of the Portuguese club before moving to Italy to play for clubs such as Novara, Udinese Calcio and Sampdoria. However, he has risen to prominence since his move to Sporting from Sampdoria in the summer of 2017.
The Maia born talent has been in the form of his life for the Liga NOS outfit after putting in some glorious displays on the pitch during this campaign. The former Boavista talent has featured in 38 matches for Sporting CP this term, registering 21 goals while grabbing 11 assists across all competitions.
He has also earned 11 caps for the Portuguese national side and has one goal to his name at the international level. At 24, Fernandes is about to embark upon the peak years of his football career which Liverpool could look to benefit from over the next few years.
Fernandes is pretty quick and agile on the pitch and knows how to make penetrative runs from midfield. He also has a keen eye for the goal and can pick out a decisive pass in the final third. His record this season proves that the Portuguese sensation has transformed himself into goal-scoring and assist-making machine in the Liga NOS. However, the Portuguese international is yet to determine his worth at the highest level so the jury is still out on whether he will be able to cut the mustard in the Premier League.
The potential acquisition of Fernandes will undoubtedly bolster Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options at Anfield. Liverpool have already got a plethora of midfield talents in their ranks such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho who are all fighting for a place in Klopp’s first-team.
However, Fernandes will add more goals and creativity to the Reds midfield and could be a smart addition for the Merseyside club. Hence, Klopp should waste no time and go all out to land him next summer.
