Romano reveals release clause of Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City target

Tom Weber

• Updated: 27 Feb 2024 15:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that in-demand midfielder Alan Varela has a €70 million release clause.

The Porto star recently put his name on the map again with a solid performance against Arsenal in the Champions League, with the Portuguese giants surprisingly beating their English counterparts with a stoppage-time goal from Galeno.

Varela had already been a sought-after commodity prior to joining Porto last summer. Formerly of Boca Juniors, the 22-year-old starred in Argentina in recent seasons and was frequently linked with a switch to Liverpool throughout 2023.

On Monday, a fresh report out of Portugal claimed that the Reds were once again keen on Varela as they continue to look for a long-term solution to their holding midfield position. Additionally, scouts of Man Utd were present at the Arsenal game and Man City have been credited with a growing interest in recent weeks as well.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has revealed exactly how much clubs must pay to prise Varela away from Porto.

Varela's release clause

Addressing the links of Varela to England's elite in conversation with CaughtOffside, the Italian transfer expert confirmed that the Argentine has a €70m release clause. Romano, however, insisted that there was as yet nothing concrete to any potential transfer interest.

"There have been reports doing the rounds of several top teams scouting Varela, including Manchester City, but for now my understanding is that it is just normal scouting activity, and nothing more advanced than that," Romano said.

“Many clubs are sending scouts to follow the 22-year-old midfielder as he’s been excellent for Porto in the recent months. I’m also told he has €70m release clause in his contract, and we know how difficult is to negotiate with Portuguese clubs, so this could be a difficult deal if any suitors come forward in the summer.”