28 February 2024 , 00:00
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Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves has lauded Alan Varela amid transfer interest in the FC Porto star from Liverpool.
Varela, 22, has already made a big impression for Porto since joining the club in an €8million (£6.8m) deal back in the summer. The defensive midfielder has made 28 appearances in all competitions and was a colossus in their recent win over Arsenal in the Champions League.
Unfortunately for Porto, Varela's talent has not gone unnoticed. A new report from Portuguese outfit O Jogo has outlined that Liverpool are admirers of Varela and are mulling over whether or not to trigger his release clause in the summer.
While it remains to be seen if the Reds will firm up their interest in the coming months, Varela has been given a glowing endorsement from Neves - who was linked with a move to Liverpool himself before joining Al-Hilal.
“He [Varela] is an excellent player. It was an excellent signing for Porto, perhaps the team’s most regular reinforcement in terms of time and quality of play,” Neves told O Jogo via Sport Witness.
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“He is extremely aggressive, is always very well positioned in defensive balances and, lately, he has been getting a little further forward, making his passing and finishing ability count. He’s already scored two goals. He is very complete and has been one of the most important elements of the team.”
Liverpool signed four new midfielders in the summer in a bid to breath new life into their team. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived for substantial sums of money and the quartet have each impressed in their own way.
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Varela has been touted as a summer target for Liverpool (2023 Gualter Fatia)The Reds won't just be in the market for new players this summer after Jurgen Klopp announced he'll be standing down at the end of the season. The German has been in charge at Anfield for over eight years.
A new sporting director is also on Liverpool's agenda with Jorge Schmadtke, who signed a short-term contract with the Reds, leaving the club after the January transfer window.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach - and former Liverpool midfielder - Xabi Alonso has quickly emerged as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Klopp. Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim is another highly-rated young coach who is understood to be on the club's radar.
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