Wolves’ decision not to sign Vitinha on a permanent basis may force FC Porto to accept a bid from Liverpool for the highly-rated Otavio, as reported by A Bola.
If Liverpool were hoping to get Otavio through the door for a cut-price fee, a golden opportunity appears to have slipped through their fingers already.
When the reports first emerged on June 27, claiming that the Merseyside giants were in advanced negotiations with the Brazilian play-maker, Jurgen Klopp and co had just three days to get the deal done before his release clause skyrocketed from £35 million to £55 million.
That July 1 deadline is long since gone, however, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can still afford a player who has lifted two Primeira Liga titles in blue and white.
The Reds have already spent nearly £40 million on Ibrahima Konate, while Klopp has made it clear on numerous occasions that mega-money signings are a fantasy in the COVID era.
Can Wolves help Liverpool land Otavio?
There is still a glimmer of hope, however, with A Bola reporting that the 26-year-old assist machine will be sold for a ‘fair price’.
What that ‘fair price’ entails, for now, remains a mystery.
But Porto’s stance has not been strengthened by Wolves’ refusal to trigger the £18 million option-to-buy clause in Vitinha’s contract.
The Portugal U21 international made just five Premier League starts during a loan spell at Molineux; a FA Cup wondergoal against Chorley more the exception than the rule when looking back on a rather forgettable stint in English football.
As a result, Porto may instead be forced to sell one of their key players in order to ease those financial pressures.
Otavio, an aggressive and all-action attacking midfielder, has mustered 27 assists in the last two seasons at Porto and could take Gini Wijnaldum’s place in Klopp’s engine room.
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