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Liverpool submit bid for €60m attacker and his club is ready to sell

SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 7: Otavio of FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto v Chelsea at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on April 7, 2021 in Seville Spain.

Liverpool have reportedly tabled a bid for Otavio and with Porto ready to sell, a deal could be arranged to bring him to Anfield.

Last week, Sport Witness cited a report from the print edition of Correio da Manhã which suggested that he had a release clause of €40million but it expired at midnight and is now set at €60million.

A Bola followed this up by suggesting that Liverpool have tabled a formal bid worth £19.7m [€23m] plus Marko Grujic and with Porto reportedly willing to sell, a deal could be reached to take him to the Premier League.

PORTO, PORTUGAL - JULY 28: Otavio of FC Porto during the team presentation prior to the pre-season friendly match between FC Porto and Newcastle at Estádio do Drago on July 28, 2018 in Porto, Portugal.

PORTO, PORTUGAL – JULY 28: Otavio of FC Porto during the team presentation prior to the pre-season friendly match between FC Porto and Newcastle at Estádio do Drago on July 28, 2018 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Liverpool are in the market to sign a player to replace Georginio Wijnaldum who has already sealed a move to join PSG for free and Otavio would be a very interesting option.

He’s certainly not a like for like replacement for the Dutchman as he is an attacking midfielder with a penchant for assisting goals and much like Philippe Coutinho, he’s got the skill and ability to go past defenders that gets fans off their seats.

Whether or not he could make the leap to the Premier League is unclear.

He got 2 goals and 8 assists in Liga NOS this season but just one assist in 9 Champions League games which is a better yardstick to measure his ability at the top level.

SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 7: Otavio of FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto v Chelsea at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on April 7, 2021 in Seville Spain.

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 7: Otavio of FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Porto v Chelsea at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on April 7, 2021 in Seville Spain. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Liverpool could certainly do with more direct goal involvements from midfield but I have my doubts whether or not Otavio is someone who can take them to the next level.

Jurgen Klopp has reached a point in his tenure where it is more difficult to approach the transfer market as he needs to prioritise immediate results over long-term success.

Otavio is not someone that will be a guaranteed starter and so spending anything over €40m to sign him would be unwise as Klopp still needs to sign a forward.