Sporting CP representatives are reportedly due on Merseyside this week to negotiate a loan-to-buy deal for Liverpool youngster Rafa Camacho.
Camacho has risen from the U18s to the fringes of the first team over the past year-and-a-half, and was named on the substitutes’ bench on two occasions in the first half of the season.
The 18-year-old has trained regularly with Jurgen Klopp‘s squad at Melwood, having proved his versatility as both a full-back and a winger during pre-season.
But despite seeming close to making his debut for Liverpool, Camacho could now be on the way out, according to reports from O Jogo.
The Portuguese newspaper claim Sporting president Frederico Varandas and director of football Hugo Viana are travelling to the city on Friday to negotiate a deal with the Reds.
This would see Camacho rejoin his former club on a possible 18-month loan, with further claims the agreement could include an option to buy worth around £13.5 million.
Previously, however, Diario de Noticias reported that he would simply join Sporting for the remainder of the campaign, after signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool, as have Record on Wednesday.
This corroborates information from the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce at the end of the December, who relayed that Camacho could head to Lisbon until the summer, with “a number of Championship clubs” also interested.
It is likely that this story develops over the coming days, particularly if Varandas and Viana are in Liverpool, but it would seem strange to allow the player to leave on a permanent basis.
Camacho’s flexibility would provide welcome cover for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on the right flank, while he could also fill in for Sadio Mane on the left.
He has been in excellent form for the Reds’ academy sides this so far this season, scoring eight in 17 appearances for the U23s and U19s.
However, if Sporting are offering £13.5 million it could be an offer Liverpool cannot turn down if Camacho is not willing to extend his contract beyond 2020.
Xherdan Shaqiri was signed for the same value in the summer, and is widely considered one of the bargains of 2018, with the Swiss of more immediate importance to Klopp in a similar role to Camacho.
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