Liverpool must pay £60m clause to sign target Alan Varela

FC Porto will demand Liverpool pay the release clause for Alan Varela this summer. The Argentine midfielder is building a reputation.

Foot Mercato is the latest outlet to report that Liverpool want Alan Varela. The midfielder joined FC Porto in the summer and has been a revelation, immediately drawing interest from elsewhere.

It's a similar story to that of Enzo Fernandez, who left Argentina for Benfica and drew instant interest. He eventually moved to Chelsea for over £100m, of course.

Varela won't cost that. Teams still must pay his release clause but it sits at €70m or around £60m. It's potentially a fantastic price for a player who won't turn 23 until the summer.

And that's why Liverpool aren't the only team interested here. Foot Mercato name both Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund as potential suitors - these are the three teams who have supposedly 'come forward' with interest.

Liverpool like Alan Varela

Reports linking Liverpool with Varela continue to gather pace. They've mainly come from Portugal, including talk that the Reds scouted him against Arsenal last month and that they're already considering his release clause.

Of course, there's one big problem with it all - Liverpool don't have a manager for next season or a sporting director. It means we've got to take talk of any impending offers with enormous grains of salt.

In theory, it's possible - Liverpool still have recruitment heads at the club - but it's incredibly unlikely they commit to any signings without those two key roles in place. Only sure-fire wins will suffice, really.

Varela isn't quite that. He's only been in European football since last summer, and £60m is a lot of money for a player no one can be 100% certain on.

It's still entirely possible that Liverpool sign him. But it's far more likely once a manager and a sporting director are in place - the two key people to sign off on a deal like this.