Rumour Mill: Liverpool linked with £45 million Porto winger Yacine Brahimi

Porto’s star winger Yacine Brahimi could be on his way to Liverpool this summer, according to reports in Portugal.

Brahimi joined the Primeira Liga side from Granada in 2014, reaffirming his status as one of Europe’s most talent attacking players.

The 26-year-old has since made 86 appearances for Porto, scoring 22 goals and laying on a further 20, including a goal and an assist in the Champions League this season.

According Portuguese publication A Bola, however, Brahimi may have played his last game for Jose Peseiro’s side.

They claim that Brahimi is “very close” to sealing a summer move to join Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool, with the deal said to be worth a staggering £45 million.

This is said to match the release clause in Brahimi’s contract, though with Porto only owning 50 percent of the Algerian’s rights, this may complicate negotiations.

Porto are thought to be lining up a move for Brazilian forward Henrique Dourado as Brahimi’s replacement, though losing his talents will be difficult to accommodate.

Brahimi is a highly skilled, versatile attacker who spent much of the 2015/16 operating on the left wing but is arguably at his best in a central role.

Also able to operate on the right flank, Brahimi could provide the Reds with an alternative to summer target Mario Gotze, who committed his future to current club Bayern Munich this week.

Brahimi’s superior technical ability and refined attacking quality would make him a surefire success in the Premier League, though the veracity of these reports remains unclear.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 8, 2016: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp during the Premier League match against Watford at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

For Liverpool to sanction a signing £10 million above their current transfer record would be something of a departure, with Klopp employing a frugal approach to the summer market so far.

Marko Grujic, Joel Matip and Loris Karius, the first three signing of Klopp’s busy summer, arrive for a combined £9.8 million.

But having expressed his desire to add quality on his flanks when speaking back in February, adding that he is looking for players who “can play different systems and react to different situations,” perhaps a marquee signing is in the offing.

One to take with a pinch of salt this.

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