By George Overhill

25th Jun, 2022 | 9:10pm

Leeds United chase Otavio as Liverpool lurk, agent is in England to secure deal

Leeds United target Otavio’s agent is in England working to secure a move for the Porto man, according to the latest report in The Mirror.

The Whites had a £26million proposal turned down for the attacker but according to A Bola they are readying a new bid of €40million [£34million].

Liverpool are thought to be planning a bid of the same amount as they look to replace the now-Bayern Munich player Sadio Mane, with Porto reportedly “expecting” a bid.

Although he has a release clause of £51million the Mirror report that it would take around £38million for the Portuguese champions to do business.

Israel Oliveira, the 27-year-old’s agent, is in the country hoping to facilitate a deal for the international who laid on 13 league assists in the 2021/22 season on the way to lifting the domestic title.

High stakes

The chances of success here would seem to rest heavily on the activities at Anfield, since it would likely be too big of a draw for the player to turn down should Jurgen Klopp’s side get an offer accepted.

With both the Whites and the Reds bids apparently expected to fall slightly short of his current club’s valuation it should depend on whether either is willing to go the extra few million.

A nominal Raphinha replacement, Otavio is virtually guaranteed to be an automatic starter at Elland Road for that kind of money, while at Liverpool he would only be part of a committee at a club that spends that amount regularly.

And while United have spent in this window it hasn’t been extortionate, and they are due to receive a significant influx of cash from the sale of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City, and would bank even more if the exit of their Brazilian winger comes about amid growing Premier League activity.

Liverpool have already spent big once in this window on Darwin Nunez and it was thought their business may have ended with him and former Leeds United target Calvin Ramsay.

The exits of former star Mane, and likely also yet another former Whites target in Takumi Minamino could convince them to go back into the market again.

It feels like the club will be struggling to get this done if they go head-to-head with the Champions League finalists, but there remains a slight chance as they should be well-placed to jump in if Klopp has any reservations.

With the agent apparently pushing to get a move done it looks like he, and even the club can be convinced, but the player himself might be a different matter.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared what signings the club is now after, including serious interest in a highly-rated young star.