Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Close on Brazilian Wonderkid Talles Magno

After a long time in the wilderness, Liverpool are back on top of English and European football, and they’ve done it with a number of Brazilians in major roles, from the departed Philippe Coutinho to current stars Roberto Firmino, Fabinho, and Alisson.

That’s elevated the club’s profile massively in Brazil, and as a result they’re being linked with 18-year-old Vasco de Gama star Talles Magno, a player dubbed the next Neymar—and with hefty €48M release clause to prove just how highly he’s regarded.

In fact, they’re being more than just linked. Over the past 24 hours Brazil’s Esporte News Mundo and Yahoo Esportes have both called Liverpool favourites to sign the player, with the latter claiming Vasco de Gama could be forced to let him go for €20M.

The cut-rate fee is said to be due to the financial strain coronavirus has put on the player’s club, with Vasco de Gama’s tenuous situation said to have induced AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid to all make contact.

It’s Liverpool, though, who are said to be Magno’s first choice and the side closest to a deal—though even with Liverpool’s renewed standing, some skepticism is due as nobody in Brazil is saying exactly what has the Reds ahead of Barca and Madrid.

There’s also some question as to whether Magno would be ready to deputise Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. However, he would likely qualify for a work permit as an exceptional talent due to his release clause, transfer fee, and standing in Brazil.

If he really does want to come to Liverpool, then, it might be too good an opportunity to pass up for the Reds—though at this stage it seems at least as likely that a desperate Vasco de Gama is using their name to try to spark a bidding war.