In a recent report, Portuguese news outlet Correio de Manha revealed that Liverpool are locked in a three-way battle for FC Porto playmaker Otavio this summer. It is believed that the Reds could face competition in the form of Fiorentina and Valencia in the race to sign the Brazilian attacker during this summer transfer window (via Correio de Manha).
Otavio’s Excellent Numbers In Portuguese Football Last Season
The 26-year-old enjoyed a fruitful season in Portuguese football as he was responsible for performing at a high level as the primary playmaker of Porto’s attack. Otavio netted five goals and secured 12 assists in 42 appearances for the Portuguese giants in the previous campaign on all fronts.
The Brazilian sensation managed to influence the game at both ends of the field based on his average of 2.0 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.4 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game in the Liga NOS. He even distributed possession accurately in the opponent’s half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 80.6% in the Portuguese top tier (stats via whoscored).
If Otavio can maintain his high standards in the Premier League, he could prove to be a shrewd signing for Liverpool this summer. His skillset suits Jurgen Klopp’s playing style quite well, so we can expect him to grow into a world-class attacker if the Reds decide to get him on board ahead of the new campaign.
Will Otavio Be A Good Option For The Reds This Summer?
Otavio can use his quickness, agility and dribbling ability to make a few clever runs with the ball in the opposition half. He has a good football IQ and can get himself into some dangerous areas in the attacking third. The one-time Brazil Under-23 international can pick up his fair share of goals and assists up top and is proficient at pressing the opposition high up the field. Hence, he will enjoy playing in Klopp’s brand of football at the Merseyside club in the coming seasons if the Reds manage to land him this summer
Otavio will undoubtedly add plenty of firepower and creativity to the Reds frontline that sometimes struggled to fire on all cylinders in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign. The Brazilian sensation will offer some much-needed cover for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota at Anfield.
At 26, Otavio is currently playing at his peak and will only get better with each season. Therefore, the Porto star will be a decent option for the Reds as he will improve Klopp’s attacking options considerably and might help Liverpool challenge for the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League trophy once again next season.
