Liverpool are reportedly in the hunt to sign Manchester United-linked Sporting midfielder Pedro Goncalves.
The 22-year-old has scored 20 goals in 31 top-flight appearances in Portugal this season, having effectively replaced Bruno Fernandes when he joined in 2020.
And Goncalves has been linked with a move to join Fernandes at Old Trafford following his impressive displays.
But Record (via TEAMtalk) now claim Liverpool are interested in the playmaker, who has a £52million release clause.
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The Portuguese champions are said to be keen to keep hold of Goncalves and are drawing up the paperwork to increase his exit clause to £69million, but Liverpool could swoop quickly to test their resolve.
Goncalves could be seen as a replacement for Barcelona-bound Georginio Wijnaldum, though he would provide more creativity from midfield than the Dutch international, and it still isn’t clear whether Wijnaldum’s move to the Catalans will come to fruition.
Wijnaldum has been a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s side that has won the Premier League and Champions League in recent times.
There have been rumours he is ready for a new challenge with Liverpool not willing to offer him the length of contract that he wants.
However, Sky Sports recently claimed that Barcelona ‘are considering making youth star Ilaix Moriba an important first-team player next season instead of signing’ Wijnaldum.
Chelsea recently joined the race for Wijnaldum’s signature as Thomas Tuchel believes he could form a great partnership in midfield with N’Golo Kante.
And now a ‘Top Secret’ report in Mundo Deportivo (via our friends at Sport Witness) claims that there is a consensus in the Barcelona dressing room that they would prefer to sign former Barcelona star Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain over Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay.
Depay, who plays for Lyon, was another target for Ronald Koeman last summer but moves for the Dutch duo didn’t materialise.
It is understood that the Barcelona squad is ‘still waiting’ and ‘dreaming’ of the day Neymar returns to the Camp Nou as they see him as a ‘great help’ in their quest to win future Champions League titles.
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