Liverpool Eyeing Porto’s Alan Varela in Potential £60m Deal. Liverpool are in discussions to sign Porto midfielder Alan Varela as new
Liverpool Eyeing Porto’s Alan Varela in Potential £60m Deal.
Liverpool are in discussions to sign Porto midfielder Alan Varela as new manager Arne Slot seeks to bolster his squad. According to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Liverpool are considering triggering Varela’s £60 million buy-out clause.
The 22-year-old Varela has drawn comparisons to former Liverpool stalwart Javier Mascherano due to his formidable defensive displays for Porto. Liverpool, familiar with the Portuguese market and driven by their data-centric scouting approach under Michael Edwards, are keen to bring Varela to Anfield.
Varela joined Porto from Boca Juniors last summer for £6.8 million. His current release clause marks a substantial increase from this initial investment. This season, he has made 44 appearances, including eight in the Champions League, where Porto reached the last 16 before being knocked out by Arsenal on penalties.
Internationally, Varela has represented Argentina at youth levels and was recently included in Argentina’s provisional squad for the Olympic Games, which could see him miss Liverpool’s pre-season and the start of the Premier League campaign.
The defensive midfield position has been a focal point for Liverpool, especially following Wataru Endo’s arrival last summer. With a renewed recruitment strategy under Edwards, Liverpool aims to target players under 25 who can develop within the club. Varela, at 22, fits this profile and brings valuable experience from both a top-tier league and the Champions League, positioning him as a key target for the Reds.
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