Mendes key to Ugarte deal as Liverpool 'remain in contact' over …

Jorge Mendes could hold key again to Liverpool midfield signing Portugal has certainly proven to be a growing market in recent years following the success of Cristinao Ronaldo, with the likes of Ederson, Jan Oblak, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Eder Militao and Bruno Fernandes moving on to flourish in major European leagues. Meanwhile, off the back of winning the World Cup, Enzo Fernandez has caught the eye in a poor Chelsea side since his British record GBP106.8m switch from Benfica last summer.

Liverpool had been heavily linked with the Argentine, ahead of a planned midfield revamp, but no move was forthcoming. How much of a knock-on effect such a fee had in the Reds being priced out of a move for fellow target Jude Bellingham, only club bosses would be able to answer definitively. Yet a new midfield target may have just emerged in Primeira Liga, after it was reported that by O Jogo and CNN Portugal that Liverpool are now considering a move for Sporting Lisbon star Manuel Ugarte.

Such reports claim the Reds have initiated contact with Sporting over a potential move for their defensive midfielder, with the 22-year-old catching the eye in continental competition especially this season. Indeed, he is credited him with the most tackles in the Champions League (29) despite a group-stage exit, with only three players bettering his Europa League return (24) so far this season. Read the full story HERE.

Liverpool 'remain in contact' with Borussia Dortmund over Jude Bellingham '2024 deal' Liverpool have resumed contact with Borussia Dortmund over signing Jude Bellingham in the summer of 2024, according to a new report. The 19-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield over the last 18 months.

However, that was until Anfield officials, as reported by the ECHO earlier this month, decided to halt their pursuit of the former Birmingham City scholar in favour of taking a more comprehensive approach to their highly anticipated midfield rebuild this summer. But according to Football Insider, Jurgen Klopp has not given up on landing Bellingham in the summer of 2024 and Liverpool have resumed contact with the Bundesliga table-toppers in the hope of striking a future agreement. The report claims the Reds "remain in contact with the midfielder's representatives and have made clear that they want to press ahead with a deal in 2024".

Read the full story HERE.

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