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August 30, 2024
As the transfer window nears its close, Liverpool is unlikely to make any last-minute signings after their recent acquisitions of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa. Alan Varela, the captain of FC Porto, emerged as a potential target on Thursday night.
With Arne Slot aiming to put his mark on the squad following Jurgen Klopp’s departure in the summer, Liverpool is in need of midfield reinforcements. Varela, who joined FC Porto from Boca Juniors last summer, enjoyed a strong debut season at the Dragao.
The 23-year-old played a key role in Porto’s victories in the Taca de Portugal and Supertaca, making 44 appearances across all competitions. The ECHO has explored the latest developments regarding international Argentina.
Varela has been rumored to be a target for Liverpool, with reports indicating that his release clause was initially set at €70 million (£59 million). However, Argentinian media outlet TyC Sports has recently reported that this clause has increased to €90 million (£76 million) as the Portuguese club aims to retain their captain.
Liverpool’s senior officials, however, have downplayed these reports, suggesting that the 23-year-old’s agent may be behind the South American speculation.
Similarly, The Athletic concurs, with journalist James Pearce noting that the club is ‘not planning a late move’ for the midfielder.
The midfielder has expressed his ambition to eventually play in the Premier League. “We always want to improve, any player wants to play for a league as important as the Premier League,” he said.
However, he is going to make that switch. “I am calm, I try to work in the best way possible and when the moment comes, it comes,” Varela added.
After joining the Dragao last summer, Varela was appointed captain by manager Vitor Bruno following Pepe’s retirement.
“It’s a huge privilege. Wearing the captain’s armband at Boca Juniors, is something unique, we all know what that means. And being recognised this way at Porto is really good,” he concluded.
The 23-year-old is tied to a contract with the Dragao until 2028, following Porto’s payment of £6 million (€8 million) to Boca Juniors for his transfer last summer.
“Alan Varela is highly regarded in the dressing room, he imposes himself and he does not need to communicate all the time, his gesture will say it all,” he said. “It was very natural how he became captain. His colleagues did not even question the decision.
“Alan represents the spirit of Porto and the values of the club. With Pepe’s retirement, it seemed natural to us for him to feature in that list [of options].”
As a pivotal player and highly regarded leader for the Dragons, it’s hard to imagine Porto being willing to consider selling him after just one year, especially when the club stands to gain so much from his contributions. Following Pepe’s departure—who was a significant leader both on and off the pitch—Varela has proven to be exactly what the team needed.
He has seamlessly integrated into the club, embodying its values and always giving his all on the field. Varela quickly became a key fixture in the team, earning a spot as a regular starter.
Last season, Varela started 28 out of 34 Primeira Liga matches. He won 55.6% of his tackles, recovered 123 balls, and made 23 interceptions while maintaining a 90% pass accuracy. Additionally, he created 29 chances and achieved 69% accuracy with long balls.
Although this summer has seen some departures from Porto as new president Andre Villas-Boas implements changes, fans will be relieved to see Varela remain for now. Given that this is his first year in Europe, he still has much more to offer Porto and aims to win additional trophies before potentially making a move to the Premier League.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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