Liverpool are leading the race to sign Porto’s Diogo Leite this summer.
Porto are determined not to lose the 19-year-old centre-back, who is also a target for Arsenal and Manchester City, but Liverpool have been impressed with the youngster’s performances for the Portuguese side’s B team this season and have made their interest in him clear.
Reports in Portugal have suggested that Arsenal are prepared to meet Leite’s €15m release clause this summer, but Anfield is his likeliest destination at the moment.
Liverpool are building a strong reputation for developing young talent under Jürgen Klopp and that could help them steal a march on Arsenal and City. If the deal is completed they plan to send the defender out on loan next season to ensure he plays regular first-team football.
A host of Premier League scouts were present at the Emirates Stadium as Leite helped Porto to win their Under-23 meeting with Arsenal on Tuesday night. His defensive partner, Diogo Queiros, is a £10m target for Bournemouth.
Emre Can’s hopes of featuring for Liverpool in the Champions League final are fading with the midfielder yet to resume training with Klopp’s squad. The Germany international has been sidelined for almost two months by a back problem but had hoped to step up his recovery on Monday, giving him three weeks to prepare for the meeting with Real Madrid on 26 May.
Can, however, has not received the all-clear to train after a scan on Monday proved inconclusive. He will be reassessed next week but that will give him less than two weeks to regain fitness for the final.
The 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer and may well have played his last game for the club although, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana also sidelined, Klopp is likely to give the Juventus target every opportunity of making the trip to Kiev.