Liverpool recently expressed an interest in Fabio Vieira but the Portuguese playmaker was never tempted by the prospect of swapping FC Porto for the Premier League, as reported by Record.
It’s fair to say recruitment was never Eddie Howe’s strong point.
But the former Bournemouth boss was certainly ahead of the curve when it came to Fabio Vieira. The talented midfielder was just 20 years old when Howe launched a £5 million bid for his services in June 2020, as reported by The Sun.
These days, however, you’d be lucky to get him for £40 million, let alone £5 million. `Vieira’s development during the past 15 months or so has been nothing short of staggering.
According to Record, the diminutive schemer is set to be rewarded with a new, long-term contract at FC Porto, complete with a £43 million release clause.
The academy graduate was due to become a free agent in summer 2022.
As you might expect, losing one of their prized assets for nothing isn’t an idea Porto are keen on.
Vieira was linked with a move to Arsenal earlier this year while, according to CM Jornal, Liverpool recently looked into a player-plus-cash swap deal that would have seen Marko Grujic move in the other direction.
Will Fabio Vieira snub Liverpool and Arsenal to remain at Porto?
Vieira was named player of the tournament at the U21 European Championships in the summer as Portugal finished runners-up to Germany.
Interestingly, Liverpool’s pass master Thiago Alcantara also won that award in 2013.
The now 21-year-old Vieira never showed any real interest in joining Thiago at Anfield, however, committed as he is to honing his talents at the club that gave him a chance when he enrolled in the Porto academy in 2008.
Vieira has already provided three assists in four Primeira Liga games this season.
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