Liverpool landed a new Portuguese attacker over the summer, as Diogo Jota arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a big-money move.
Jota has made a promising start to life at Anfield, and looks like the ideal player to offer cover behind Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the Liverpool attack.
It now seems that Jota wasn’t the only Portuguese forward under consideration for Liverpool over the summer, though their other target was more of a long-term idea.
Eusebio Mango Fernandes – the father of Sporting winger Joelson – has told O Democrata that he held three meetings with Liverpool to discuss a move to Anfield.
He claims that Arsenal made a €20million (£17million) bid to sign Joelson, but neither they or Liverpool could lure Joelson away as he chose to stay at Sporting instead.
Joelson, 17, was allegedly viewed by Jurgen Klopp as an option to play down the left flank as cover for Sadio Mane, and Liverpool have shown just how serious they are about him having held three meetings over a possible deal.
The teenager has blistering pace and looks to be an exciting talent for the future, whilst it’s no great surprise that Liverpool see him as Mane’s heir given that they play in the same position and possess the same terrifying speed.
Mane is only 28, so Liverpool don’t have to worry too much about finding his successor just yet, but having held three meeting to try and sign him, don’t expect Liverpool’s pursuit to end here.
Liverpool tend to track players for a long time before finally signing them, working diligently in the transfer market to get what they want; just look at Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, pursued for months before Liverpool finally got them.
Joelson may have signed a new deal with Sporting, but Liverpool appear to be serious about landing him in the long term – and if he continues to develop in Portugal, don’t be surprised to see Liverpool fighting with Arsenal at the front of the queue for his signature.
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