Move over Manchester City, Liverpool would be a force to be reckoned with if they sign Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes.
Even Premier League champions Manchester City cannot rival Liverpool in an all-out battle of firepower against firepower.
Between them, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have scored 82 goals in all competitions this season, and they combined to sweep Pep Guardiola’s supposedly all-conquering City aside in three of their four clashes in the Premier League and Champions League across 2017/18.
But if Liverpool secure a deal to bring in Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon this summer, could they align the best attack in England with the best supply line?
According to O Jogo (14 April, page 19), the Reds have entered talks to sign the Portuguese intentional play-maker, who has a remarkable 14 goals and 20 assists to his name in all competitions for Sporting and seems like a ready-made replacement for one Philippe Coutinho.
Fernandes has an £87 million release clause in his contract at Sporting, but A Bola believe that the 23-year-old could be on the market for a far smaller fee despite a brilliant debut season with the Lisbon giants.
Now, Fernandes would offer that creativity and skill to align with the power and energy of Naby Keita, the £48 million RB Leipzig talisman who looks about as much a perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s team as it is possible to find.
And then there is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson, who have come on leaps and bounds this season, and the returning Adam Lallana.
If Liverpool can bring in Fernandes, Manchester City might find they have a bit less breathing room at the top next season.
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