As reports suggest, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte are set to go head to head to complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario.It is said that both the Premier League managers have already placed bids for the Portuguese over the last seven days. The initial bid of £33 million from Liverpool was reported to have been rejected back in the summer. However, a fresh new bid from the Anfield side is lining up as reported by the Daily Express.
According to the Express, the 2016 UEFA Euro winner’s father has revealed that Lisbon are unlikely to accept any offers under £50 million for the Portuguese who has now become one of the more wanted players’ after his impressive winning campaign with Portugal.
Speaking of his father, the Portuguese star’s father spoke about the interest that clubs are showing in his son as he stated, :
“They go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting President. I was informed, however, that the club said no to a €35m (£29.3m) bid plus €10m (£8.4m) in bonuses from Inter and €40m (£33.5m) from Liverpool.”
Recent article in The Daily Telegraph today reported that Chelsea are now getting involved by going in with a £39 million bid for Lisbon winger with reports also stating that the player would prefer a move to the Premier League over a move elsewhere in Europe.
If Klopp is actually interested in signing the Portuguese then he surely needs to step his game up for this one as Chelsea are on the hunt as well and he may very well need to get his skates on with a fresh and improved new bid if he wants to avoid missing out on the 23-year-old Euro winning star after all.
