Lijnders spotted chatting to Porto star with expiring contract - Liverpool are reliably linked 👋
The 21-year-old's contract expires in the summer of 2022
Much is often made of the post-match Jürgen Klopp chat - so much so to the point that opposition fans have previously accused the German of ‘tapping up’ their players.
This time around, however, it was the Liverpool boss’ assistant Pepijn Lijnders who was the subject of attention, with one supporter noticing the Dutchman embracing FC Porto star, Fábio Vieira, after the Reds’ 5-1 victory.
As one Porto fan, @amoofabiovieira, rightly pointed out in a tweet: “This guy Pep Lijnders was assistant of the Porto U19 team while Fábio Vieira was there!!!”
What makes the moment particularly noteworthy is Liverpool’s reported interest in the 21-year-old.
Most notably, renowned Liverpool journalist, Melissa Reddy, yesterday wrote for the Independent that the midfielder had been tracked by the Merseyside-based outfit ‘as part of their long-term scouting’.
The rising star is thought to need time to develop and wouldn’t be considered one of the first names on the teamsheet when it comes to Klopp’s midfield three, were he plying his trade at Anfield instead of the Estádio do Dragão.
However, with a contract that is set to expire next summer - not to mention with Vieira being positionally versatile - Liverpool would be well-advised from both a financial and talent-acquisition perspective to consider the player as a potential transfer option.
The possibility of a reunion with Lijnders could prove to be attractive, though it remains to be seen whether Liverpool deem the Portuguese a genuine target.
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