Liverpool reignite interest in Porto star after Arsenal performance

Tom Weber

• 26 Feb 2024 09:53 CST
• 3 min read

Liverpool are once again - or still - interested in Porto midfielder Alan Varela, according to Portuguese media.

The combative holding midfielder has been highly rated since his Boca Juniors days. Indeed, the 22-year-old already appeared on the radar of top clubs such as Liverpool last year while still playing in his native Argentina.

In the summer, Varela joined Porto for €8 million and he has gone from strength to strength since his move. Though Porto are a fair bit off the pace in domestic play, the Portuguese giants recently stunned Arsenal in the Champions League, winning the first leg of their round-of-16 clash thanks to a late strike from Galeno.

Varela impressed at the heart of midfield and this has firmly put him back on the radar of elite sides looking for a reliable holding midfielder.

Liverpool, Man Utd keen

According to O Jogo, Liverpool are once again monitoring Varela, while Man Utd even sent scouts to watch him against the Gunners. Both clubs are keen to strengthen their defensive midfield positions in the summer and Varela looks a viable option.

Man Utd are ready to move on from an ageing Casemiro and are not expected to make Sofyan Amrabat's loan permanent. Liverpool, meanwhile, could look for an upgrade on Wataru Endo despite the 31-year-old having done a brilliant job this term and recently receiving major praise from departing manager Jurgen Klopp, who urged the club to give him a long-term deal.

Varela's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently stands at €18 million, but he is under contract until 2028 and Porto are therefore under no pressure to sell. Interested clubs will be forced to pay a significant premium for the 22-year-old with a recent report quoting an asking price of a whopping €70m.