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Liverpool are scouting a player from the Portuguese top flight amid rumours circulating of Ruben Amorim’s imminent arrival.
On Wednesday, Sky Germany claimed Sporting manager Amorim had reached a verbal agreement in principle with Liverpool.
While the publication insists a deal has not yet been finalised, the 39-year-old has allegedly discussed a three-year contract to become Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
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Sources on Merseyside claim the reports are “wholly inaccurate", adding that the club are undertaking a thorough process around a number of candidates, with a preference yet to have been decided upon.
Amid claims of Amorim’s imminent arrival, Liverpool have been linked with someone else based in Portugal - Porto midfielder Alan Varela.
According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, a Reds scout was at Porto’s 2-1 defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes on Sunday, to watch Varela.
The report added that Varela, who is under contract until 2028, has a €70million release clause.
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The 22-year-old Argentine midfielder came through the ranks at Boca Junior six months after Alexis Mac Allister’s departure for Brighton.
Varela went on to fill the void left by the Mac Allister in Boca’s midfield, before securing a move to Porto last summer.
Elsewhere, irrespective of whether Amorim joins Liverpool this summer, his departure from Sporting appears likely.
When asked last week if he was able to follow Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso by confirming he will stay, he said: "No, I can't make any guarantees".
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He added: "Sporting are dealing with their future and I can't decide now because I gave my word, I can't go back on that, so if I don't win trophies, I'm going to leave Sporting.
"That's been very clear since the start. I felt it was important to get that across to the players because we have to win. We want to win trophies and we'll decide on those things later.
"I'm not worried about that right now. The future has been planned for quite a long time. We're all together as a club and looking into all situations and what we want for next season, so that's the main reason why I can't guarantee anything.
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"I said that to my players and as the leader I can't go back on my word, as hard as that may be. We have to win trophies, we're on track to do that and that's why it's so important to win our next game."
Topics: Liverpool, Sporting Lisbon, Jurgen Klopp
Chris Byfield