Liverpool are leading Arsenal in the race to sign Fabio Vieira and the Premier League giants will get a “special” talent in the Portugal U21 ace, former Porto youth coach Manuel Tulipa has told Agencia Lusa.
It’s been just four months since Luis Diaz held a Liverpool scarf above his head, posing for photos at Anfield.
It’s almost as if the Colombian has been around for years, such is the impact he’s had on Jurgen Klopp’s already fearsome frontline.
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There was understandable excitement then when The Mirror (May 15, page 77) reported that Liverpool had been given the first refusal by another star at the Estadio do Dragao.
One with a £12million release clause in his contract.
“Fabio Vieira is special because he can see everything,” says Tulipa.
“He is a player who can play the last pass and who arrives in the penalty area, scores goals at half distance and dead balls. He is also progressing in terms of his pressing.
Arsenal and Liverpool want Fabio Vieira from Porto
A visionary playmaker who can push through crowded defenses while pushing opposing players into submission; No wonder Klopp loves him.
The Mirror claims Arsenal are also big fans of Vieira – having been linked for the first time in 2020 – but Liverpool’s interest also goes back a long way.
It was reported around 12 months ago that the Champions League finalists were willing to offer Marko Grujic in a deal that would have seen Vieira move to Anfield shortly after being named Player of the Tournament at the Championships d’Europe U21, following in the footsteps of Thiago Alcantara in 2013.
“What surprises me is how he displays his quality when many teams are in a low block,” Tulipa adds. “These players are the ones who are worth a lot of money.”
Well, most of the time anyway. Vieira’s £12m release clause, albeit with the additions condition, means Porto’s hopes of bringing in another huge fee for another huge talent could soon go up in smoke.
In other news, ‘Erratic’: Gary Neville says Arsenal defender makes mistakes
