"Perfect match" - Journalist on why Liverpool have an edge when Primeira Liga players

Liverpool journalist Matt Addison has claimed that Liverpool have an advantage over other clubs when it comes to signing Primeira Liga players.

Speaking on The Red Agenda Podcast, as quoted by This Is Futbol, Addison said that due to Julian Ward's (Liverpool's new sporting director) previous work in Portugal, the Reds are able to have a better relationship with Primeria Liga clubs than previously.

“He speaks Portuguese, and worked with the Portuguese national team, you can kind of get a feel for which clubs around Europe are the ones where the talent can develop best," he said.

“Obviously, it works the same way if Liverpool are sending a player out on loan to a club and they know that club is a good environment and therefore know the club is a good place to pick up the players if they deem, for example, Porto to be a good place to send a player.

“By definition that also means that Porto is a good place for their players to have developed and therefore, would come onto Liverpool’s radar.

“It’s a perfect match really in terms of the kind of network, contacts and relationships that he’s been able to pick up with these clubs, such as Porto, Sporting and Benfica, but also elsewhere across the continent and whenever Liverpool have sent players out, he’s not just speaking tot he player he’s speaking to people within those clubs, he’s got that direct link really with everyone that he needs to know within that club.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

We can't forget that Pep Lijnders also worked with Porto for nearly a decade. The Liverpool assistant manager is fluent in Portuguese as a result.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has talked about how much he trusts and rates Lijnders when it comes to him scouting talent, so it makes sense that the Reds have targeted the Primeira Liga recently.

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz came in and lit up the Premier League last season. Hopefully striker Darwin Nunez will do the same during his first season at Anfield.

The fact that Diaz still hasn't had a pre-season with Liverpool is crazy to think about too. The Colombian and Nunez could prove to be a deadly duo after having a few months to work alongside each other before the 2022-23 campaign begins.

The future looks very bright for our Primeira Liga stars.