Liverpool are reportedly the first club to make a formal bid for Bruno Fernandes, but the fee claimed is significantly lower than Sporting CP’s rumoured valuation.
The Reds have been among a numbers of sides touted with an interest in Portugal midfielder Fernandes this summer, along with the likes of Tottenham, Man United and Inter Milan.
A move would make sense in many ways, providing Jurgen Klopp with an added goalscoring presence in the final third, with the 24-year-old scoring 32 in 53 games last season, also making 18 assists.
Whether the reports are genuine remains to be seen, but following up from previous, Portuguese tabloid Correio de Manha claim Liverpool have made a €45 million bid for Fernandes.
This converts to £40.1 million, and is the only “official offer” from any side so far, it is contended.
Given Fernandes’ age, his remarkable campaign in 2018/19, his status as a 12-cap international and the vast array of clubs circling, this would represent a ‘bargain’ fee.
Liverpool paid similar for Fabinho last summer, while Naby Keita, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson were all signed for more in 2018.
This could present the deal claimed as too good to be true, and this may even be the case based on earlier reports from the same publication.
On June 9, Correio de Manha highlighted the Reds’ interest as a game-changer in the race to sign Fernandes, with Spurs considered the “main stakeholders” prior to any approach from Klopp’s side.
However, they also add that “whoever wants to guarantee the Portuguese international will have to present a proposal of about €70 million to Sporting,” describing this as “an unalterable demand.”
If this valuation of £62.4 million is, as suggested, unalterable, a bid of more than £20 million lower would surely be ill-advised.
Although Michael Edwards has, of course, pulled off excellent business in recent transfer windows.
Whether this is Liverpool simply testing the water is unclear, but it could also be a case of the club’s name being used to bump up Fernandes’ asking price.
Similar is seemingly the case with Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, with reports from the Merseyside press denying any interest in the Ivorian despite firm claims from France.
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