After years of scouting, Liverpool is in “formal talks” about a £60 million Porto midfield player.

Alan Varela, a midfield player for Porto, is reportedly the subject of “formal talks” between Liverpool and the player, which go back to Varela’s time in Argentina.

The Reds will be reshaping their squad for the upcoming season behind the scenes while they wait to name their new manager.

Varela, a 22-year-old defensive midfielder who has excelled since moving to Porto last summer, seems to be one such target.

Journalist Luis Fregossi from Argentina claims that Liverpool and Porto have started “formal talks” regarding a deal that would pay 20 percent to the player’s previous team, Boca Juniors.

Varela’s contract contains a release clause worth €70 million (£60.4 million), of which €14 million (£12.1 million) would go to Boca.

According to Fregossi, Varela “already knows what contract he would have” if he were to move to Anfield, and Liverpool is “closest to hiring” him. The move would “certainly take place in June.”

Liverpool has been keeping tabs on the Argentine for years, and this is not the first time the two have been connected.

Before Varela moved to Porto for €11 million last summer, scouts were reportedly present at several Boca Juniors games in 2023.

He was observed by scouts in Portugal.

Since then, they have kept an eye on his performances; earlier this month, the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reported that scouts attended Porto’s 2-1 loss to Vitoria SC.

Naturally, Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund are all linked to Liverpool, so they are not the only team with this interest.

However, Fregossi’s updates are fascinating, and as Thiago gets ready to leave at the end of the season, another midfield addition seems likely.

Varela is a natural No. 6 who is especially at ease in possession; according to FBref, he is in the 92nd percentile of midfielders in the top 15 football leagues for pass completion.

Significantly, the Argentina U23 midfield player has an impeccable record in terms of injury absences; according to Transfermarkt, his only absence occurred in 2021 when he missed two Boca Juniors games because of a COVID-19 quarantine.

When it comes to targets this summer, Liverpool’s recruitment team and Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at Fenway Sports Group, are working with a new team led by sporting director Richard Hughes and assistant David Woodfine.

After giving up control to Jurgen Klopp in recent seasons, the club is returning to a data-led process, and many of those will be long-standing.

Portugal will be seen as a crucial market, especially since Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP is the clear favorite to succeed Klopp—something Varela has now demonstrated he is capable of doing.

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