And so here we are on the final day of the transfer window and Sérgio Oliveira is still at Porto, still not considered good enough by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, and still holding out for a move to a club who will get into Europe.
Oliveira isn’t even in the Porto senior squad any longer, he’s been sent down to the B side and is very much on the market, and has been for the entire window. The 24 year old attacking midfielder is vastly experienced for Portugal at youth level but hasn’t really kicked on from there.
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo report on Tuesday that Sunderland made a €4.6m offer, about £4m, but Oliveira wasn’t keen on the club. It was claimed previously by the same newspaper that Southampton had also offered £4m, but they’re not good enough for the player either.
There are loan offers on the table from Spain and Italy, although the clubs aren’t named.
Perhaps it’s Real Madrid and Juventus.
Southampton are in the EFL Cup final, which is a pretty good shot at Europe, and of actually winning something. Oliveira should surely be happy with interest from a club like Southampton, given his current situation.
Even Sunderland would allow Oliveira a shot at impressing in the Premier League, which could then lead to the level he clearly believes he’s at, but Porto clearly don’t.
Maybe a reality check is needed.
