The father of Sporting CP winger Joelson Fernandes claims Liverpool held meetings over a potential transfer. The teenager decided to stay put, however.
The father of Joelson Fernandes certainly has a lot to say about interest in his son. Eusébio Mango Fernandes, who also manages the teenager, claims several major clubs wanted Fernandes this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8tL1LICqnE
In an interview with Guinean outlet Jornal O Democrata e Mídia, Fernandes Sr. claims he had monetary offers from clubs. Ajax offered £900k, Liverpool £2.7m, Manchester City £4m, Paris Saint-Germain £4.5m, and then Arsenal apparently went all-out by offering £18m.
But instead, the younger Fernandes remains at Sporting CP.
Interestingly, Liverpool appear to have done more than just offer a fee. They apparently held three meetings over the player – the only club named to have done so – and revealed their plans for Fernandes.
Liverpool wanted to bring the teenager in and, despite him being only 17, use him as the backup for Sadio Mane on the left-wing.
“I thought that in life money is not everything,” said Fernandes Sr, before adding that he owes a debt of gratitude to Sporting.
What RTK has to say
Most of this is very believable. Joelson Fernandes is a highly-rated teenage winger and we would believe that Liverpool had a look at him. It’s also understandable if they held multiple meetings over the player – we know the club is thorough when it comes to transfers.
£2.7m, too, sounds like a reasonable fee for a 17-year-old – even if Arsenal apparently offer 6x that.
But we don’t quite believe that Liverpool planned on using the player as backup for Mane. Instead, it’s more likely that they see/saw him as a Harvey Elliott-type. As in, the long-term successor but a youth player for now who has first-team games peppered in.
For one, it’s quite a jump to go from seeing a £2.7m untested teenager as your backup to later paying £41m to sign Diogo Jota for that role.
But this is certainly one to watch.
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