Liverpool 'expected' to signal transfer intent after Leeds £26m bid rejected

Porto expect Liverpool to firm up their interest in winger Otavio this week after rejecting £26million bid from Leeds.

The Portuguese side believe an official offer of around £34m will be made by Jurgen Klopp's club in what is expected to be a pivotal week for the player's future. Brazil-born Portugal international Otavio has a release clause of around £51m in his contract.

But it is understood the Primeira Liga side are willing to do business at around the £38m mark and the player's agent, Israel Oliveira, is in England trying to get a deal over the line for the 27-year-old.

Otavio can operate out wide or in the No.10 role and was the subject of a bid from Leeds last week which fell just short of £26m. It was rejected by Porto, who signed the player from Internacional in his homeland in 2014. Otavio represented Brazil at age group level but in March 2021 he became a Portuguese citizen and he made his debut for his adopted nation later in the year.

Leeds are also expected to come back with a bigger offer this week. Liverpool signed Colombia star Luis Diaz from Porto in January.

Liverpool are following up their interest attacking players having sold Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. Mane said in a farewell interview with the club's website how it will be weird to start next season in the Bundesliga as he paid tribute to Reds boss Klopp.

Mane said: "Obviously it is strange - really, really strange - to no longer be a Liverpool player after six years spent at Anfield. But of course I had a great time, an unbelievable time, and since my first day I really, really enjoyed training, playing, at Anfield especially and in front of these amazing supporters."

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"From the first day I came to the club, I spoke to the boss when I was in Southampton and I think at that time we were not even in the Champions League. He called me and I said, 'For sure.' I just decided in my heart that I am coming to Liverpool because that is where I see myself and for me it was the right time and the right club to achieve everything.

"I think since day one [when] I spoke with him to join Liverpool I think we had a really, really, really good relationship and [he is] a great manager. He has heart and also like I said now, he dedicated himself [and that] makes him so special. Of course, he helped me a lot to become the player I am, and the staff and all the boys, the players. And myself, like I always said, I never stopped working hard as well.

"I can say of course we won a lot and I spent a great, great time there. An unbelievable time at Liverpool, we won a lot. Like I always say, my life is always [about a] challenge and when it came I said to the club that I want to leave, I want to go somewhere else to see a new challenge. It is not anything else, it is just a challenge because for me I want to always be challenging myself to get better and better."