After completing a deal for Joe Allen with Stoke City a couple of days ago, Jurgen Klopp is in the market for a new central midfielder, although his first bid has been rejected.
Klopp had a โฌ33.5 million bid for Sporting Lisbon star Joao Mario rejected by the Portuguese club, as Lisbon believe the midfielder is worth โฌ50m.
The 23-year-old was instrumental in Portugal's European Championship win last month, and has gained a number of potential investors, with Inter Milan joining Liverpool as front runners for Mario.
Mario's father, Joao Mario Eduardo, told Portuguese news his son had been the subject of many offers.
โProposals for the lad don't come directly to me," Eduardo said.
โThey go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting President. I was informed, however, that the club said no to aย โฌ35m plusย โฌ10m in bonuses from Inter andย โฌ40m from Liverpool.
โNothing particular has happened, my son is a professional and knows he has a contract with Sporting.โ
