According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, Liverpool could secure the services of Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes on a cut-price deal as the Portuguese outfit are desperately trying to raise some cash to help them cope with their recent financial struggles. However, the same source has claimed that the Reds will face stiff competition from the likes of Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan in pursuit of the Portugal international.
The Mirror has also revealed that Fernandes has an £86m release clause in his current contract with Sporting, but the club’s vice president Francisco Salgado Zenha has recently indicated that they might have to let him go for less. In a recent interview with Portuguese TV channel TVI24 (via the Mirror), Zenha said, “To my knowledge there are no proposals. Are there any interested? Certainly.
“For 100 million he goes. Any value below, the decision has to be taken together.
“The way to manage football is not exclusively about money.
“If there is a good proposal, if it makes sense, it might be accepted, but we have no decision made on that.”
The fact that Sporting are willing to sell Fernandes for less than his release clause should keep his potential suitors interested. The Maia born talent has enjoyed a rich vein of form for the Portuguese giants in this campaign. The former Boavista player has made 42 appearances for Marcel Keizer’s side this term, registering 24 goals while grabbing 13 assists across all competitions.
The 24-year-old has also earned 11 caps for the Portuguese national team and has one goal to his name at the international level. At 24, Fernandes is currently playing at his peak which Liverpool could look to benefit from over the next few years.
Fernandes has decent pace and is always willing to make direct runs behind the opposition backline from midfield. The Portuguese talent is also an accomplished finisher and can pick out a final pass in the attacking third of the pitch. His record this season has been nothing short of exceptional, so if he can replicate that kind of form in the Premier League, then we could see him be considered in the world-class bracket soon.
The potential addition of Fernandes will undoubtedly bolster Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options at the Merseyside club. Liverpool have already got a plethora of attacking midfielders in their ranks such as Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri and Roberto Firmino who are all fighting for a place in Klopp’s starting XI.
However, Fernandes is capable of giving every one of them a run for their money when it comes to performing consistently on the pitch. As long as the Portuguese prospect doesn’t have any problems adapting to life in the Premier League, he should be an excellent fit for the Reds at Anfield.
