Liverpool held three meetings to try and sign winger in last window – Klopp wanted back-up for Sadio Mane

Liverpool and Manchester City both tried to sign Sporting wonderkid Joelson Fernandes this summer, according to the player’s father.

Eusébio Mango Fernandes, who also works as his agent, spoke to El Democrata and listed all the big European sides who’ve been chasing his son lately.

Besides Liverpool and Manchester City, he claims that Ajax, Arsenal, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, RB Leipzig and Wolverhampton Wanderers were all keen on the 17-year-old.

Regarding the interest from Pep Guardiola’s side, it’s said they only offered €4.5m to sign the winger. That wasn’t nearly enough, since Sporting had bids as high as €20m, and turned down all of them.

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It seems the talks with Liverpool went a little deeper. It’s claimed that there were three meetings, all with the approval of Jurgen Klopp, who wanted the teenager to be a back-up for Sadio Mane.

The offer from the Reds is listed as one of the attractive projects he had on the table, along with Barcelona’s and Borussia Dortmund’s. But it turns out the bid was just €3m, and Joelson Fernandes ended up signing a three-year extension with Sporting in the end.

“It had to be a thoughtful decision, because my wish as a father and agent, on the day that Joelson Fernandes leaves Sporting, is to be friendly and through the big door, but not through the back door”, Eusebio Mango Fernandes told O Democrata.