Sporting Lisbon defender Jerry St Juste has admitted that ‘top Premier League’ clubs are looking to sign him amid claims that Liverpool have made their interest known.
The former Mainz and Heerenveen ace is the fastest player in the FIFA video game series. How seriously you take such trivia is up to you, of course, but St Juste’s remarkable acceleration was clear for all to see as Sporting knocked Mikel Areta’s Arsenal out of the Europa League last month.
Gabriel Martinelli had left the home defence choking on his dust following a typically thrilling run during the first leg in the Portuguese capital. That was until St Juste turned on the afterburners, fired up the thrusters and charged down the Brazilian, completing a quite outstanding piece of defending with a challenge cleaner than a surgeon’s scalpel.
According to Portuguese publication Record, Liverpool opened talks with St Juste’s camp after that 2-2 draw in Lisbon. The one-time Newcastle target has a £40 million release clause in his contract.
And while St Juste did not confirm the identity of his alleged suitors, the former Netherlands U21 international insists that the speculation surrounding a potential move to the Premier League is not wide of the mark.
Liverpool like Sporting Lisbon defender Jeremiah St Juste
“After the game against Arsenal, interest came from the top of the Premier League,” St Juste tells Voetbal Zone.
St Juste struggled to force his way into Ruben Amorim’s XI before Christmas. As such, the one-time Feyenoord ace considered a short-term return to the Eredivisie during the January transfer window, before opting to fight for his place at the Estadio Jose Alvalade instead.
“Because I didn’t play at the start of this season, I briefly thought about (moving on loan) to the Eredivisie last winter,” St Juste adds. “Two Dutch top clubs inquired about me. I briefly thought about that because I still have the feeling that you are more likely to play for the Oranje (the Dutch national team) in the Eredivisie.
“In the meantime, I am very happy that I stayed here. Then, you also see how fast things can change.”
Liverpool are prioritising a midfield overhaul this summer. The Merseyside giants are in the market for defensive reinforcements too, however.
The versatile St Juste, who can also play at right-back, could be a long-term replacement for the ageing and injury-prone Joel Matip.
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