Transfer news: Liverpool see mega offer rejected for £105m-rated Barcelona target

The January transfer window is open and managers are working hard on strengthening their squads and identifying targets for the summer so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest rumours. Today, Liverpool are linked with a mega move for Joao Felix…

Liverpool have seen a huge £61m offer rejected for Joao Felix amid speculation Barcelona are also in the hunt for the Benfica wonderkid, according to reports in Portugal via talkSPORT.

Felix came through the youth ranks at Porto but eventually joined Benfica in 2015 and has established himself as an important part of Bruno Lage’s starting eleven since breaking in to the first team set-up last year.

The 19-year-old has scored 6 goals in his 18 appearances in all competitions so far this campaign and he’s expected to be called up by Portugal boss Fernando Santos having already represented his country at U21 level.

His potential has also alerted top sides here in the Premier League as talkSPORT are citing a report from Correio da Manha that claims Liverpool have joined Manchester City in the race to sign the attacking midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp has one of the most feared attacks in world football but the Reds boss knows he needs to add more depth if they’re to compete on all fronts after seeing his side crash out during the early stages of both domestic cups this season.

It seems Klopp has now formalised his interest in Felix as the Portuguese newspaper says Liverpool have now seen an opening offer worth a whopping £61m rejected by Benfica for the youngster’s signature.

The teenage superstar signed a new long-term contract recently that included a buy-out clause worth £105m and the report suggests that Benfica are holding out for an offer closer to that figure with the likes of Barcelona and PSG also in the race to sign Felix.

If Liverpool had their reported £61m offer accepted then Felix would have become their third most expensive signing ever behind Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson so it would certainly have been a significant investment from the Merseysiders.

Felix is predominantly a central attacking midfielder but he’s capable of playing anywhere across the front line so his versatility would have made him a very useful addition to the squad if Liverpool were able to get a deal agreed.

However, I think we should take these reports with a pinch of salt for now until something more concrete comes out as £61m seems like ridiculous money for a player who’s only played less than 20 first team games in Portugal.

READ –> Liverpool transfer news

I can’t find a link to the Correio da Manha report online as this story must have been published in their print newspaper so we’ll have to take talkSPORT’s report at face value, but I find it a little difficult to believe that Liverpool were willing to pay £61m for Felix at this stage of his career.