Liverpool could have been dealt a transfer blow as Porto midfielder Alan Varela is now in advanced negotiations over a new contract with his current club.
The talented 23-year-old has attracted a lot of attention during his time in Portugal, and that apparently sparked interest from Liverpool during the recent summer transfer window, although the Reds eventually saw a deal blocked.
Porto decided to keep Varela and are now working to extend his contract and give him a pay rise, with efforts apparently going well so far, according to journalist César Luis Merlo on X, formerly Twitter, who also added in the Liverpool detail. summer interest…
?(EXCLUSIVE) Porto have advanced negotiations to renew contract with Alan Varela.
*??After his transfer to Liverpool was not given, the club and the agent of the former Boca are discussing a salary improvement but that the length of the contract is maintained and continues until June 2028. pic.twitter.com/weYE3l2jaz— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) September 30, 2024
Varela could have been a useful signing for Liverpool in midfield, with the Merseyside giants noticeably missing out on the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad also in this position.
Varela transfer: What’s next for Liverpool target?
It will be interesting to see if LFC will replace Varela again at some point in the future, or if other big clubs also get involved, but for now it may seem most likely that the Argentine will stay where he is for a while. longer
Porto have often been a good springboard club for talented young players from South America, with Varela the latest to show what he can do with the opportunity to play regularly in a major European league, as well as occasionally in the Champions League.
It could be that Varela would do well to continue his development there a little longer before agreeing to a big move to Anfield or similar, so one imagines he will remain one to watch in the coming months and years.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are surely in no need of a new midfielder that urgently after bringing in Alexis MacAllister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch just over a year ago, with the latter also improving greatly since Arne Slot became a coach.
