Liverpool have secured first option on Fabio Vieira as they potentially look to beat Arsenal in the race for the Porto star this summer.
Liverpool raided Porto once in January by bringing Luis Diaz to Anfield.
That deal has been an absolute masterstroke with Colombian star Diaz immediately becoming an Anfield favourite.
You could hardly blame Liverpool for looking towards the Portuguese market again in the near future.
Assistant boss Pepijn Lijnders spent eight years at Porto and will have a great knowledge of the Portuguese market.
Vieira continues to be linked with Liverpool and it looks like Liverpool are the favourites to sign him.
Liverpool have secured first option on Fabio Vieira
The Sunday Mirror (15/05, p77) report that Liverpool have been able to land a first refusal on Vieira.
Premier League rivals Arsenal are also understood to be interested in signing Vieira.
However, Liverpool’s relationship with Porto is strong – especially after the deal that took Diaz to Liverpool in January.
That means Liverpool have allegedly been able to secure a first option on Vieira.
It’s suggested that Vieira has a £12.7million release clause but any club would also have to agree to add-ons with Porto.
Liverpool would seemingly have first refusal on such a deal, giving them a real advantage over Arsenal if true.
Vieira, 21, has racked up seven goals and 16 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.
Primarily an attacking midfielder, Vieira is considered to be one of the top prospects in Portuguese football.
Vieira’s brother has already suggested that Liverpool looking at the best young players means Vieira will be on their radar.
Mara Vieira also claimed that Vieira is in no great hurry to leave Porto but you have to think that a move to Liverpool would appeal – especially after seeing Diaz’s success.
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