Liverpool have lured attacking players like Sadio Mane from the Saints and Georginio Wijnaldum from the Magpies and they must not sign another attacking midfielder this summer.
However, reports are constantly linking the Reds with Portuguese international Joao Mario who currently plays for Sporting CP.
Sky Sports claimed on their transfer center:
The agent of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario has confirmed that Liverpool lodged a bid for the Portugal international last week. Jurgen Klopp is still interested in signing the player, according to Sky sources, but it will take an increased bid of at least £35m to lure the playmaker to Anfield
The reports provided by Sky sources are completely different from the reports in Portugal or perhaps Sky have failed to mention the correct fee.
Liverpool did lodge a bid of €40 million to sign the 23-year-old attacker but the move was rejected.
As mentioned above, Sky are claiming that a bid of £35 million (€41 million) should be enough to secure Mario’s signature i.e. Liverpool should improve their offer by just €1 million. Therefore, the report makes little sense.
Joao can play anywhere in the center/attacking midfield and had a brilliant campaign with the Primeira Liga club. Moreover, he was also a key member of the Euro 2016 winning Portuguese side. After top performances, his price tag is surely going to be high and Sporting rate (Diario de Noticias) him around €60 million (£51 million).
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Another midfielder when we need a striker and full back. Sorry, lads, this is beginning to be pathetic!
If all the math quoted is of course accurate, then instead of spending 41 million to sign another midfielder, they would do much better to use the money towards signing Lacazette. He is a top quality player and it is one of the two remaining positions that need addressing.
As it happens, again if mentioned figures are accurate, 42 million for Lacazette is a no-brainer. Give them their asking price and it is still a very good deal. Sell Benteke, no longer needed and pay a little extra for Jonas as left back and either ditch Moreno or push him as a second or third choice. The two missing positions would be filled with top quality additions and the under performers are moved on without too much of a loss. Sounds like a ‘win-win’ to me!