As Portuguese star nears move to rivals, are Liverpool missing a trick?

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Bruno Fernandes is said to be nearing a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.

The 24-year-old’s stock has soared this season after a highly impressive campaign for Sporting CP in which he has made 49 appearances and scored 28 goals. He has also laid on 16 assists for teammates.

Fernandes, an 11-time Portugal international, was reported by O Jogo earlier this week to be closing in on a move to the Etihad Stadium, with City star Bernardo Silva having talked up his compatriot.

Fernandes is supremely talented and is still only 24, meaning he has years to offer whichever big club manages to sign him.

It would seem City are in the driving seat, but interest from Liverpool appears to have surprisingly cooled as the transfer window approaches.

TBR’s view

Before City and Manchester United entered the picture, Liverpool had been reported as interested in the playmaker.

This time last year, The Metro cited sources in Portugal that the Reds had began talks with Sporting over the possible transfer of Fernandes, but a move in the summer of 2018 never materialised.

In March of this year, Sporting president Francisco Salgado Zenha admitted Fernandes could be sold for less than his £86 million release clause, with The Mirror having reported the Reds could land him in a cut-price deal.

As good as Liverpool have been this season, they might be missing a trick allowing Premier League rivals City to land Fernandes.

A goalscoring midfielder is exactly what the Reds need this summer, and he could be a more reliable option than long-term target Nabil Fekir.