‘Will move’: Manager predicted reported £35m Liverpool target would head to England

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Reports linking Liverpool with a January move for David Carmo will have come as no surprise to Carlos Carvalhal.

Speaking to the Sun last month, the Braga boss felt it was only a matter of time before the Primeira Liga’s most highly-rated defender was packing his bags and heading for the exit with Britain perhaps his most likely destination.

With Carmo improving month on month and sending scouts all over Europe into a frenzy, Carvalhal predicted that Carmo would be bidding farewell to Braga’s picturesque stadium at the end of 2020/21.

But, with Liverpool making their interest known just days before the January window swings open, could the 6ft 5ins Iberian depart The Quarry six months ahead of schedule?

“The young centre-back Carmo is one of the players for the future. He’s playing regularly in our team. In the summer he was very near to moving to the Bundesliga,” said Carvalhal, the former Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday coach.

“I believe at the end of the season they will move. Who knows, maybe to England.”

The Mail now reports that Carmo is on Liverpool’s radar, with Jurgen Klopp’s title-winning backline hit hard by a seemingly unrelenting injury crisis which has now claimed Joel Matip as its latest victim.

The Portugal U20 star has a £35 million release clause in his contract (A Bola).

Then again, even with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the treatment table, Liverpool have not conceded more than one goal in a single Premier League game since the Merseyside derby two months ago.

With Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips stepping up in heroic fashion – and that is without mentioning Fabinho’s transformation into an elite-level centre-half – maybe Liverpool should keep their chequebook in their pocket.