Liverpool are eyeing up a deal for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Goncalves with the Portuguese side embraced for a summer approach, according to reports.
The 22-year-old replaced Bruno Fernandes as Sporting's main attacking outlet in midfield last year and has 14 goals in 15 Portuguese top-flight matches so far this season.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds endured a busy January transfer window which mainly involved bringing in defensive reinforcements to make up for injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
And according to Portuguese news outlet Record, Liverpool made an initial approach during the January transfer window to bring in midfielder Goncalves and are set to return for the player in the summer.
The Portuguese midfielder joined Sporting in the summer of 2020 after a season at top-flight side Famalicao.
Goncalves had a two-year stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2017 to 2019, joining Nuno Espirito Santo's side when they were in the Championship - but only made one senior appearance for the Midlands club in the Carabao Cup.
Now the player is one of the top players in Portugal this season, though he does have a £53million release clause which Liverpool could be tempted to activate.
Goncalves was signed by the Portuguese giants six months after former midfielder Fernandes departed to Manchester United for £67million in January 2020.
The midfielder currently wears the number 28 shirt at Lisbon - the same number adopted by Cristiano Ronaldo before he joined Old Trafford in 2003.
Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho also had the same number for several years before his departure to Porto in 2010.
Liverpool may be forced to bring in a new midfielder with concerns over Gini Wijnaldum's future at the club.
The Dutch midfielder's contract expires at the end of the season, with the 30-year-old yet to agree over a new deal and can now discuss a move elsewhere.
Graeme Souness claims the Reds must be tearing their hair out over whether to offer the experienced midfielder a new deal or not, given how much service the player has given to the Merseysiders.
The Sky Sports pundit claimed after Liverpool's win over West Ham last month: 'It must be a headache for the club to come to decision (over his future), (whether to give) too long a contract that takes him up to 33. They will miss him if he goes.'
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