Transfer insider gives update on Liverpool’s hunt for Argentina star whose agents have gone to ground

Liverpool’s reported transfer links to £106.5m Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez have been played down by Fabrizio Romano.

With talk about Jude Bellingham growing, as well as his price tag, Liverpool would be crazy not to look at alternative signings. And with Chelsea the latest side to potentially gatecrash a move for Bellingham, Liverpool have other men on their radar.

And one of those players is understood to be 21-year-old Argentina star Fernandez.

As per the Liverpool Echo, who cited reports in Portugal, Liverpool ‘don’t rule out’ going after the Benfica man.

Sport Witness provided an update on the situation, while citing reports coming out of Spain. They claimed Liverpool are preparing to make contact with Benfica to discover how much Fernandez could cost.

Sky Sports also declared Liverpool were monitoring Fernandez closely in the last window.

Of course Jurgen Klopp is in need of a midfield revamp. A number of players are coming to the end of the contracts in 2023. While Jordan Henderson, 32, is winding down his Anfield career.

‘Public knowledge’ Klopp wants a midfielder

Fernandez has massive release clause of £106.5m in his current deal which runs until 2027, according to O Jogo. He is in an age bracket that will attract Europe’s big guns and the scope to improve significantly playing at a higher level.

Romano though has cooled the talk, saying he is expecting a string of names to be linked with Liverpool in the months ahead. And he says the representatives of the player are not entertaining any transfer talk.

“We’ve heard a lot about Jude Bellingham, and now Enzo Fernandez is making headlines! Honestly, I think Liverpool will be linked with 20-30 midfielders in the next months as it’s public knowledge that they’re looking for a top midfielder in 2023,” Romano told Caught Offside.

“As for Enzo Fernandez, he has just arrived at Benfica. He’s focused on Benfica and on the World Cup – no one close to him wants to speak about a potential transfer now. Let’s see in the summer!”

Liverpool’s new sporting director Julian Ward will have basically been tasked with recruiting a new midfield for Klopp. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract next summer.

Shock Arthur Melo signing

Loan signing Arthur Melo will also be due to return to Juventus.

The Brazilian was a surprise capture on transfer deadline day. It was a signing that came out of blue after Klopp changed his mind over his midfield options.

Gianluca Di Marzio broke the story on deadline day and claimed a loan deal was “all done”. That proved correct as Ward managed to keep the media sheltered from the negotiations that took place with the player and the Turin club.

It was certainly a feather in the cap for Ward keeping the press in the dark. But whether the midfielder will prove his worth at Anfield remains to be seen. After a broken up season last term Arthur looks to be a million miles away from being fit to play in a Klopp midfield.

Arthur has even employed his own personal fitness team to get him up to speed after making he debut in the 4-1 defeat at Napoli.

READ MORE: Sadio Mane’s exit was down to Jurgen Klopp, says former Liverpool midfielder