Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Porto defensive midfielder Fernando Francisco Reges, who is also wanted by Manchester United.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola this week:
* Liverpool have made contact with Fernando's agent.
* He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January.
* Having recently been granted Portuguese citizenship, there are no work-permit issues to worry about.
Everton agreed a €17m deal for Fernando towards the end of the summer transfer window, and Blues boss Roberto Martinez even attended a work-permit hearing, but the transfer ultimately fell through.
Discussing Fernando's future this week, Antonio Araujo, the player's agent, told reporters:
"I can not talk much about it. The market will reopen in a few weeks, so we'll see later. It's a situation to analyse. He can leave Portugal in January or at the end of the season"
Known as 'Polvo' (The Octopus) by Porto's fans, Fernando's contract expires in June 2014, which means he will be available for free if the Reds hold out until the summer. The problem with that, however, is that if the club doesn't don't tie Fernando down to a pre-contract agreement in January, some other club easily snap him up.
When asked recently about the relevance of his nickname, Fernando told FIFA.com:
"I remember people started calling me 'Polvo' (Octopus) but I didn’t really understand why. Later they told me it was because I seemed to be everywhere and had lots of legs. It was an encouraging sign of recognition for me."
Despite his excellent performances for Porto, a place in the Brazil squad still eludes Fernando, and it's something that mystifies his Porto team-mates. Earlier this year, Striker Lucho Gonzalez barked:
"No one ever talks about Fernando, but he’s a player who’s shown he can play at international level. I don’t understand why he’s not a first-choice in the Brazil side.”
It's something that also frustrated Fernando himself, as he told FIFA.com recently:
“I’m still hopeful. I get letters from fans and they ask me about the national team, and all I can say is that I’m going to keep on working. I get a lot of exposure here in Europe but not in Brazil because I left home early. I play like a European now and not at all like a Brazilian holding midfielder.”
Ironically, fellow Brazilian Lucas Leiva could be responsible for Fernando's lack of international caps. They're both the same age (26), but Lucas has 26 caps for Brazil, and given then fact they're both defensive midfielders, one of them will inevitably have to miss out, and it seems like its Fernando (!)
The newly-anointed Portuguese citizen could get his revenge, though, if he signs for Liverpool. The Reds definitely need some serious competition for Lucas in the centre of midfield, and Fernando would have the opportunity to usurp his compatriot.
Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson are not defensive-midfielders, and although Lucas is an integral member of the team, the Reds arguably need a stronger, more athletic option in the squad, and Fernando seems to fit the bill.
Worth a bid...?
Author: Jaimie K
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola this week:
* Liverpool have made contact with Fernando's agent.
* He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January.
* Having recently been granted Portuguese citizenship, there are no work-permit issues to worry about.
Everton agreed a €17m deal for Fernando towards the end of the summer transfer window, and Blues boss Roberto Martinez even attended a work-permit hearing, but the transfer ultimately fell through.
Discussing Fernando's future this week, Antonio Araujo, the player's agent, told reporters:
"I can not talk much about it. The market will reopen in a few weeks, so we'll see later. It's a situation to analyse. He can leave Portugal in January or at the end of the season"
Known as 'Polvo' (The Octopus) by Porto's fans, Fernando's contract expires in June 2014, which means he will be available for free if the Reds hold out until the summer. The problem with that, however, is that if the club doesn't don't tie Fernando down to a pre-contract agreement in January, some other club easily snap him up.
When asked recently about the relevance of his nickname, Fernando told FIFA.com:
"I remember people started calling me 'Polvo' (Octopus) but I didn’t really understand why. Later they told me it was because I seemed to be everywhere and had lots of legs. It was an encouraging sign of recognition for me."
Despite his excellent performances for Porto, a place in the Brazil squad still eludes Fernando, and it's something that mystifies his Porto team-mates. Earlier this year, Striker Lucho Gonzalez barked:
"No one ever talks about Fernando, but he’s a player who’s shown he can play at international level. I don’t understand why he’s not a first-choice in the Brazil side.”
It's something that also frustrated Fernando himself, as he told FIFA.com recently:
“I’m still hopeful. I get letters from fans and they ask me about the national team, and all I can say is that I’m going to keep on working. I get a lot of exposure here in Europe but not in Brazil because I left home early. I play like a European now and not at all like a Brazilian holding midfielder.”
Ironically, fellow Brazilian Lucas Leiva could be responsible for Fernando's lack of international caps. They're both the same age (26), but Lucas has 26 caps for Brazil, and given then fact they're both defensive midfielders, one of them will inevitably have to miss out, and it seems like its Fernando (!)
The newly-anointed Portuguese citizen could get his revenge, though, if he signs for Liverpool. The Reds definitely need some serious competition for Lucas in the centre of midfield, and Fernando would have the opportunity to usurp his compatriot.
Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson are not defensive-midfielders, and although Lucas is an integral member of the team, the Reds arguably need a stronger, more athletic option in the squad, and Fernando seems to fit the bill.
Worth a bid...?
Author: Jaimie K
well!he look very good and we need real competition for lucas and he wont be that expensive.i would be more happy if we can get him now if we are more of a challenger for the title we need him in january,for me we need 3players.1striker,2 midfielde salah and fernando.
ReplyDeleteCan't say. The compilation has too slide tackles where he jumps. We don't know whether he was caught out of position or other porto defenders are shite. But the guys got pace ( although compared to Lucas almost everyone is pacy ), I'll give him that.
ReplyDeleteHe is lightening quick. He goes to ground for a lot of tackles but he seems to be a clean tackler. We need someone with pace in the defensive role and he certainly looks like he could do a good job for us.
ReplyDeleteHe is like Sakho if he was shorter, thinner and a good center midfielder.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, definitely looks like a Rodgers kind of player, if hes a good holder of the ball and has passes in him then he will be perfect.
ReplyDeleteHe gives a good sense, i think he will fit really well for some reason.
He is Portuguese now so he can play for them, which reliefs pressure for the poor Brazil players. Coutinho is losing his composure of shots and passes because of this world cup.
Lucas is only 26? I thought he was at least 30. We need 5 players. Salah and Fernando is a good start. Extra striker, another creative midfielder with goals, and, at some point a top left back. Two transfer windows Rodgers said?
ReplyDeleteYep, Lucas seems to have played like a fella in his 30,s for years :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. ive seen this guy on Fifa, and I know his stand tackle and slide tackle is 86 & 87 respectively, but seeing that video he looks a real beast. some of those tackles were Amazing. for a Free transfer, we will need him in the CL next summer so we should go ahead with this transfer. I thought the club were going to buy Jorginho, as he looked the most-gerrard like replacement, and he was Brazilian to make it better. It must be very clear now that the reason we were struggling to beat teams is because the midfield was not mobile enough, and gerrard may have quality but he is much too slow to play in the Central Midfield role at a high level. we get overrun too much and im sorry but tbh we would probably get battered by Man City too if we had Gerrard playing. he may whip in some fantastic crosses for goals but conceding goals from our midfield slowness is not worth it. Joe Allen is nowhere near Steven Gerrard in terms of quality but he has fitted into the team seamlessly because he is not slow and the midfield is much more organised. not always chasing the game like at Arsenal, Swansea, Southampton etc.
ReplyDeleteGerrard is no different to Agger but if he wants to enter the team hes got to work for his place. and I really want to see stevie g scoring goals because this is really not the stevie g I know.
So it looks like were signing Salah which is a great signing for LFC and he looks a player of real quality and has massive potential. but its probably sad news for Sterling. the two of them are of similar age and It will probably be Raheem who loses his place. which is sad because on form it should be coutinho. Coutinho has contributed well in games but I think he is lacking in confidence with the pressure on him to make the Brazil squad. he has been a shadow of last season and his pre-season. I hope he can rebuild his confidence and get some assists and goals to his name. Even sterling went to say sorry to coutinho for scoring, as he probably knows too Phillipe is trying to score goals to impress Scolari. I think coutinho should not think about the World Cup and focus on Liverpool. we could potentially win the PL title and if he thinks of each game as World Cup Final for Liverpool, we can probably lift the title and he will make the Brazil squad. if he didn't, it would be an outrage.
The owners need to back B Rodgers with 60-70M in January to maintain top 4 pursuit and in order to bring players of Coutinho, Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez's calibre and class in attack.
ReplyDeleteRodgers needs to bring in these 5 players in January:
1: DM: M'Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan for 10-14M to compete with Lucas But Fernando(26) Of Porto could be second option also
2: CM: Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle for 16-20M to compete with Henderson
3: RW / RWF: M Salah(21) Of Basel for 10-14M to compete with Sterling
4: LW / LWF: D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal /Lisbon or B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle for 5-14M to compete with Ibe, so we can send average/mediocre V Moses(22) back to Chelsea
5: FD: L Remy(26) Of QPR( on loan at Newcastle) for 6-10m to compete with Sturridge to play alongside Suarez