Liverpool ‘advance’ for signing, offer expected – Reds turn into ‘strongest candidates’ to sign midfielder

All of a sudden, Liverpool are said to be leading the race for Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte, and have ‘advanced’ for his signing.

In the past week, we’ve been covering several stories from the Portuguese media which claimed Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the midfielder.

And it turns out that as newspaper Record today writes about the 22-year-old, they reveal that Liverpool are engaged in a more advanced pursuit of the player.

The outlet writes that the Reds have been watching Ugarte ‘in loco’ in several matches, and are preparing to act for their signing.

As previously reported by the Portuguese media, the midfielder’s agents Jorge Chijane and Jorge Mendes are arriving in Lisbon this week to speak to Sporting about his situation. Now, it’s said they’ll bring with them Liverpool’s ‘intentions’ about the player.

Record says the Reds are now the ‘strongest candidates’ for the signing and should come with their first bid for the signing, even though at this stage, the representatives will just try to understand the Lions’ stance on a deal.

The story makes it clear that other Premier League clubs are also expected to bid for Ugarte. He has a €60m release clause, and Sporting acknowledge it’ll be very hard to hold him if a bid of around that amount arrives.