Liverpool may have won the race for Argentina and Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez and 'agreed' on a deal ahead of a June 2023 transfer, according to fresh reports from South America.
Fernandez, 21, made the move to the Portuguese capital in July after rising through the ranks of South American giants River Plate.
However, it now appears that the midfielder could be set for his latest big-money switch as Argentine outlet La Capital claim his outstanding performances for Lionel Scaloni's side in the World Cup have triggered Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool to make a move.
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It is suggested that Anfield officials, who are still being led in procedures by outgoing sporting director Julian Ward, have reached an arrangement with Benfica over a deal to bring Fernandez to Merseyside in June. The report claims the Reds struck early in a bid to fend off anticipated interest from both Manchester United and Manchester City.
"Liverpool accelerated the efforts to incorporate Enzo Fernández and has already signed a pre-agreement with Benfica, the Portuguese club that has the federative rights of the young midfielder of the Argentine national team, who earned a place among the starters of Lionel Scaloni's team during the World Cup in Qatar," claims the report.
"The English club in this way anticipated two other greats in the Premier League, Manchester United and Manchester City, institutions that had also planned to add the former River and Defense and Justice since June 2023."
However, Liverpool's rumoured interest in the midfield prodigy is not an immediate response to his eye-catching displays alongside Lionel Messi at this winter's finals in Qatar, where he is more than playing his part in helping the Albicelestes claim a third World Cup success.
Despite his recent move to Estadio da Luz, the Reds were suspected to have weighed up a move for Fernandez during the summer months, just weeks after he had signed from River Plate. Sky Sports' Melissa Reddy claimed that officials on Merseyside have kept a "watching brief" on Fernandez following his move to the Primeira Liga giants back in July.
Ward is known to have a strong relationship with those in Portugal after previously holding a role as Liverpool's European scouting manager, with a particular interest in Portugal and Spain. Ward was first able to make use of those connections last January as worked alongside Michael Edwards to strike a deal for then-Porto forward Luis Diaz, who had been close to agreeing on a switch to Tottenham Hotspur.
After Edwards' departure earlier this year, Ward was tasked with leading the pursuit of Darwin Nunez from Benfica, whom he agreed to an initial £64m deal with. It was during face-to-face talks with the club's president and sporting director Rui Costa that the 41-year-old was able to conclude a deal for the Uruguayan.
Liverpool had been in the market for midfield reinforcements during the summer but after Real Madrid swooped to secure the signature of Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco just days after their Champions League triumph at the Stade de France, it meant that Klopp's list of preffered targets was dwindling.
The Liverpool manager also later conceded that Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham was not for sale during the summer, despite the Reds' clear interest in the English superstar.
"He’s not on the market," said Klopp in July, when asked about a potential move for Bellingham. "So that’s the first problem with that player. Well, the only problem with that player!
Fernandez is expected to start in Argentina's World Cup semi-final clash with Croatia on Tuesday evening.
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