Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is reportedly watching Porto star Vitinha very closely as the Reds plot another transfer swoop on the Portuguese giants.
Jurgen Klopp 's club prised Luis Diaz away from the Estadio do Dragao for £50million in the January transfer window and have now set their sights on the 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers and has been checked out by Anfield scouts. According to O Jogo, via Sport Witness, Lijnders is "keeping a close eye" on Vitinha, having been an assistant coach at Porto while the midfielder was rising through their academy ranks.
Vitinha has bounced back from an underwhelming spell with Wolves to establish himself as a key player in Sergio Conceicao 's side, with the Dragons sitting six points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga with seven games to go. But the playmaker, best suited to an advanced role with defensive cover around him, is also being eyed up by other clubs across Europe.
It is claimed that Bayern Munich and Lazio are also interested, with Porto unwilling to budge from Vitinha's £33.3million release clause. However, Liverpool could have the edge thanks to recently negotiating Diaz's arrival, as Klopp praised their resolve in trying to keep hold of the Colombian and lauded his development in Portugal.
The German told his club's website after the signing was completed on the eve of transfer deadline day : "We know Porto is an outstanding club who nurture players in the best possible way and provide a brilliant football education. They are a class club and, I have to say, have been tough negotiators."
The Reds came up against Porto twice at the Champions League group stage this term, as Vitinha came on as a substitute in both games. Now a regular starter under Conceicao, the youngster earned his first Portugal call-up this month and could make his debut in their World Cup qualifying play-off final against North Macedonia on Tuesday.
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If Vitinha does make the move to Merseyside, he will be hoping to fare better than in the midlands, having made just five Premier League starts. "I'm not going to lie: I came with the idea of having more minutes, playing more and being in the team more often, but it didn't happen," he told O Jogo last May.
"I had the same type of opportunities and tried to make the most of every bit of it to show my value and help the team. Of course [I think next season will be better] as player always thinks it can be better and I will aim for that. I was surprised [when Wolves signed me] but at the same time very happy, because Wolverhampton is a good club and this is a great league.
"That is why I accepted it. As we have many Portuguese [here] everyone has helped. Any questions I have, they are always ready to help. Everyone played an important role and everyone helped, including the technical team. I also try to be aware of what my teammates do to develop." That development could soon be at Anfield if Lijnders likes what he sees.
