HITC can reveal that Liverpool were in Portugal this weekend to check on one of their attacking targets for this summer.
Liverpool are entrenched in the Premier League title battle and currently only goal-difference is keeping them off the top-of-the-table.
This season’s is Jurgen Kopp’s last at Anfield, and the hunt for his successor has been the club’s priority in recent weeks – but it is Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim who has emerged as their top target.
HITC has revealed that talks are ongoing with his agent, whilst Amorim himself concentrates on trying to secure the Portuguese title – something they are on they are on the brink of doing as they are currently ten points clear at the top.
Whilst hunting for a new head coach – Liverpool’s new footballing chief Michael Edwards is also working hard on their summer recruitment plans, as a new forward and central defender are high on their wanted list.
And Sporting could be somewhere that Liverpool turn to, not just for their new boss. HITC revealed earlier this month that Swedish star Viktor Gyokeres had emerged as a target for Manchester United, but we also explained how Liverpool also held an interest in the 25-year-old.
Liverpool will never sign a player purely on the behest of a coach – but they will not be averse to bringing in a player from Sporting as well as the manager, although they will do their own work on the player to make sure he fits the profile they want and that is just what they are doing.
Liverpool watch Viktor Gyokeres claim brace in weekend win
Even before their interest in Amorim emerged, Liverpool have been tracking Sporting consistently this season and are confirmed admirers of their central defender Goncalo Inacio and midfielder Morten Hjulmand – but they are also becoming increasingly interested in Gyokeres, HITC can confirm.
Sources have now confirmed to HITC that Liverpool were in Lisbon at the weekend to attend Sporting clash with Vitoria de Guimaraes.
We are told that Gyokeres was the main reason for Liverpool’s attendance, although Inacio and Hjulmand also featured in the game, and their is no doubt their scouts will have been sufficiently impressed as the Scandinavian striking sensation claimed a brace with goals either side of the break in a 3-0 success.
Gyokeres has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers following his summer switch from Coventry City and HITC understands that Sporting are braced to lose him.
The player himself is refusing to get dragged into the speculation about his future.
Gyokeres calm about his future
“I don’t think much about the future,” Gyokeres told Correio da Manha last month. “I want to win the league and the cup with Sporting. That’s what I put all my energy into in the club team.
“We’ll see this summer. It’s not something I know about myself, what will happen.
“I enjoy Sporting extremely well and feel no stress about the summer coming quickly.”
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