Father of Portuguese winger claims Liverpool held three meetings to sign Arsenal target
The father of Sporting CP winger Joelson Fernandes claims that Liverpool held three meetings over a potential transfer this summer.
Eusebio Mango Fernandes, who also manages the teenager, claims several major clubs wanted to sign his son.
In an interview with Guinean outlet Jornal O Democrata e Mídia, as cited by Rousing The Kop, Fernandes Sr. claims he had bids from big clubs.
He states that Ajax offered £900,000, Liverpool £2.7m, Manchester City £4m, PSG £4.5m and then Arsenal, who showed the biggest interest, went big at £18m.
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However, Fernandes Jnr opted to stay at Sporting instead.
The report adds that the Anfield outfit offered more than just a fee, having also held three meetings with the youngster. They were also the only club named to have done so.
Liverpool wanted to bring the teenager in and use him as the back-up for Sadio Mane on the left-wing. That is despite the fact they had already splashed out for Diogo Jota.
“I thought that in life money is not everything,” said Fernandes Sr, before adding that he owes a debt of gratitude to Sporting for deciding not to sell.
At this stage, it remains unclear if the Reds will renew their interest in the youngster in the January window.
Perfect Van Dijk replacemengt lined up
Liverpool insiders feel in ‘no doubt’ that Sevilla defender Diego Carlos would go some way to covering for the absence of Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is in a race to play again this season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament on Saturday.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, though, will face no retrospective action for his collision with the 29-year-old.
The injury blow has left an alarming gap in Jurgen Klopp‘s defence. Indeed the last time Klopp did not field Van Dijk in a Premier League back four was in January 2018.
As such, pundits such as Jamie Carragher have claimed that Liverpool need to offset his absence with a new signing.
According to Don Balon, Liverpool have already identified their ideal January addition. Read more…