Liverpool are reportedly in talks with FC Porto midfielder Otavio as Jurgen Klopp continues his scouting mission in Portugal.
According to Jornal de Noticias, Liverpool are weighing up another major coup of a player from Portugal, having targeted Otavio. They are in talks with the 27-year-old FC Porto star, who wants to leave the club in the summer. The player’s priority is to join a top European club, and that is where LFC come into the fray.
Liverpool did business with FC Porto earlier in the year when they roped in Luis Diaz in the January transfer window. The Colombian international has turned out to be quite a bargain, having established himself as an indispensable part of Jurgen Klopp’s attacking setup.
In light of Diaz’s success at Anfield, Liverpool negotiated a big-money move with SL Benfica to bring in Darwin Nunez this summer. The Uruguayan international comes on the back of a sensational couple of years at Benfica and is promising to make waves in the Premier League in the coming season.
Liverpool are looking to maintain the sequence by once again targeting a player from Portugal, in the form of Otavio. The 27-year-old FC Porto attacker has been on the radar of the Merseyside giants for quite some time now, presumably due to the versatility and playmaking skills he brings to the table.
A right midfielder by trade, Otavio is indeed a tactically versatile player. He is capable of operating on both flanks and even as a number ten. The Portuguese international excels at creating chances, either with his crosses into the box or through well-placed passes in and around the final third.
Otavio’s qualities have not gone unnoticed, with Liverpool targeting him ahead of the new season. Although the Reds have recently shown a lack of enthusiasm in selling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, they are aware of the Englishman’s limited potential and lack of prominence in the first team.
The addition of someone like Otavio, to that end, could go a long way in helping Liverpool add more strength in depth. However, luring the 27-year-old from Portugal could be a tricky task, especially given how many top-quality players FC Porto have lost this year.
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The Portuguese giants will look to limit the losses by refusing to sell a few of their remaining assets and that may include Otavio. Even if the club are forced to sell the Portuguese midfielder to Liverpool, they are likely to hold out for a hefty price tag, as the player’s contract at Estadio do Dragao does not expire until 2025.
