Man United to beat Liverpool to complete the signing of £104m Portuguese star ‘recommended’ by Cristiano Ronaldo with Erik Ten Hag keen to bring him to Old Trafford
According to reports, Liverpool is about to sign a Portuguese international who was recommended by Cristiano Ronaldo, possibly surpassing Manchester United in the transfer market. It is not expected that either club would make any major January acquisitions, with United having financial fair play restrictions.
But in the wake of Joel Matip’s season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Fulham, the Reds are looking into center-back possibilities.
This season, the target, a right-footed center-back for Benfica, is the highest-scoring defender in Liga Portugal in terms of passing accuracy. He is positioned as a possible future star in international football thanks to his noteworthy statistics, which include high rankings for tackles and blocks per ninety minutes.
According to reports from 2022, when Erik ten Hag was appointed at United, both Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Portuguese centre back excellent reviews. Both of them had been teammates on the national team, so there was a positive perception of him at Old Trafford.
Ousmane Diomande of Sporting Lisbon is another option that Liverpool is thinking about. Arsenal and Newcastle are also interested in the 20-year-old Ivorian centre back, who is expected to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Alongside Goncalo Inacio, another youngster who is allegedly attracting Liverpool’s attention, Diomande has been a consistent member of Sporting’s starting lineup this season. The Sporting group also includes Sebastian Coates, a former center-back for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s efforts to bolster their defence in the face of injury setbacks are demonstrated by their chase of defensive reinforcements. With Cristiano Ronaldo’s endorsement, the prospective signing gives the transfer story a fascinating new angle.
Manchester United and Liverpool are both managing the difficulties presented by the transfer market, but Liverpool’s proactive commitment to resolving defensive issues indicates their intention to be competitive in both local and foreign leagues.
The completion of these possible trades will take place in the upcoming weeks, amid the conjecture that encircles the transfer market.
Liverpool has demonstrated a dedication to long-term success by strategically addressing their defensive issues, and if the rumoured trade is completed, the suggested Portuguese talent may be a great asset to Anfield.
