Now pundit Micah Richards, speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, believes there is a guarantee that Liverpool will be treated to attack-minded football if they land Amorim.
“I think the way he plays tactically he’d be good. In terms of could he be good for Liverpool? Definitely. He’s really intelligent,” Richards stated.
“He plays attacking football. He has evolved as a manager as well because he was at Braga I think. He did OK there.
“The thing is though, can he do it in the Premier League so soon? That’s the one question mark you would have. I’ve heard Liverpool fans saying they would like him. They like his style of football, you just never know.”
Amorim desperate to make goal machine first Liverpool signing
In the meantime, talk is growing that Amorim is desperate to bring a number of his Sporting players with him to Anfield if the opportunity arises this summer.
And while Liverpool will need to fork out around €10m (£8.5m) compensation to land the 39-year-old, they will need to spend a whole lot more if they are to prise a player fast emerging as his dream first signing.
Per reports, the man in question is Swedish goal machine Viktor Gyokeres, who has rattled in an astonishing 36 goals in 43 games for Sporting since signing from Coventry last summer.
His form has seen the likes of Chelsea, Juventus and, most strongly, Arsenal, all linked with a move for his services.
And while Sporting are pointing to the vast €100m (£85.5m) exit clause that exists in his deal, it seems that fee will do little to dissuade the Gunners from making a move.
However, it is now strongly claimed that Amorim wants to bring the striker to Anfield with him this summer and is asking Edwards to fund the 25-year-old’s buyout clause as part of his own move to Merseyside.
And the possibility of a move to Liverpool is one that the player’s agent is not scoffing at.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Rúben is being linked to Liverpool, it’s normal, his work is of a high level, it’s what the clubs are looking for,” Gyökeres’ representative Hasan Cetinkaya told A Bola.
“Yes, it will be more difficult for Viktor to stay if Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting because Viktor came precisely because of Ruben.
“The day we met, I said to Rúben: ‘Here’s my boy, he came to Sporting because of you’.”
Demand is high for Gyokeres
Cetinkaya added: “There were eight clubs very interested in Viktor last summer. They all paid Coventry more than Sporting, they all paid Viktor more, they all paid a higher commission to the agent.
“And I brought him to Sporting because of Ruben Amorim, because I know his work and his work with the players. I chose Ruben because he is a coach at another level.”
All that suggests that a move to Anfield for Amorim could well see Gyokeres follow suit if the opportunity arises.
Either way, Sporting are set to make a vast profit on their initial €20m signing last summer, though Coventry are owed 10% to 15% of any future sale, presenting the Sky Blues with a minimum further €10m if his buyout is met.
Contracted to Sporting until summer 2028, he also chipped in with 16 assists this season – meaning he has a goal contribution in every 0.8 appearances so far for the Lions.
He certainly looks ready-made to score goals in the Premier League, though if Liverpool were to sign him, it may well push Darwin Nunez’s nose out of joint with the Swede operating in the same No 9 role as the Uruguayan.
0 Comments