Leeds plan new move for 14-assist star – but his club expect Liverpool bid this week

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Leeds United want Otavio but may now face a battle with Liverpool as Porto expect the Reds to make their move this week.

The Whites enjoyed a busy and exciting start to the window by snapping up Brendan Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca.

Yet things may now get a little more troubling as Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha could both be on the move to Premier League rivals in the near future.

That means Leeds will need even more reinforcements to bolster Jesse Marsch’s squad, and one potential Raphinha replacement has emerged.

Leeds United want Otavio

Leeds now seem to fancy a Brazil-born winger who excelled in Portugal; that sounds a little like Raphinha at Vitoria Guimaraes.

This time though it’s Otavio in question, as Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reported just days ago that Leeds offered €30million (£26million) for the Porto star – but the offer was rejected.

A Bola claimed that Leeds would be returning with a new bid of €40million (£34million) in the coming days – but the Whites may face a battle.

The Mirror claim that Porto are expecting a £34million bid from Liverpool this week, which is still short of the £38million they want.

Otavio’s agent Israel Oliveira is now in England to thrash out a move for the 27-year-old, with this week likely to be a pivotal one.

On the one hand, Liverpool have shown a willingness to shop in the Portuguese market by signing Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez this year.

They have been linked with Otavio on a number of occasions and seeing Leeds make a move could jolt Liverpool into action.

Yet is this really the kind of move Liverpool would make? Otavio is 27 which already seems to be a little older than Liverpool usually go for, even if it’s not all that old!

The Portugal international hit 14 assists last season but Liverpool already have Diaz, Nunez, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

A move for Otavio just doesn’t make sense for Liverpool, and this may just be an agent tactic to force through a move to Leeds this week.