Liverpool still have an interest in Sporting Lisbon's Nuno Mendes but the 18-year-old defender is about to become a lot more expensive.
Jurgen Klopp's side reportedly made an offer of £19million for the left-back, which was rejected by Sporting, who would have accepted £40m.
But in response to the flurry of interest in Mendes, Sporting plan to tie the youngster down to a new contract with a £63m buy-out clause in the coming weeks.
According to Portuguese newspapers Record and O Jogo, Liverpool's interest in Mendes is ‘concrete' despite them not being in urgent need of a left-back.
The player could potentially move next summer with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United also interested in the highly-rated wonderkid.
But the reports in Portugal say the Premier League champions are the only club to have made an offer already.
It is thought Mendes, who is a Portugal Under 21s international, could convert to a central defender in the future.
SEE ALSO | Ajax's Perr Schuurs opens up on Liverpool transfer link
Injuries to first choice centre-halves Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have stretched their defensive strength this season though the Reds nonetheless sit top of the Premier League table.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
