Opinion: Liverpool can use swap deal to sign £35m Otavio on the cheap

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Liverpool could try to sign Otavio this summer, according to reports. They may have a way to knock his price down, too.

CMJournal believes Liverpool could move to sign Otavio. The Brazilian playmaker currently has a release clause in his contract – but it’s complicated.

Otavio signed a new long-term deal with Porto that comes into effect this next month. They also bumped his release clause up to around £51m.

But right now, that release clause is just £35m. Teams effectively have one week to trigger that clause before it rises by £16m.

Liverpool will be deciding on that, then, and you can read our thoughts on potentially signing Otavio here.

As we point out in that piece, there is an issue with activating that clause anytime soon. Liverpool must sell before buying further in this window, per the Athletic, and we can’t imagine they’ll raise enough funds in the next week.

But perhaps there’s a way to make this work.

Could Liverpool sign Otavio?

According to Record, Porto would really like to sign Marko Grujic this summer. The midfielder spent last season on loan with them and was a regular by the end of the campaign.

They’d like to bring Grujic back and Liverpool are open to selling. Only, Porto can’t afford the Reds’ asking-price. They’re hoping it falls but they also need to hope Hertha BSC don’t pay it.

It feels like there’s a compromise here, then. Liverpool can effectively guarantee that Grujic joins Porto in exchange for lowering that release clause.

Or, potentially, reaching an agreement that allows for that release clause to be paid in instalments. Either way, Liverpool could make signing Otavio far easier by using Grujic in a kind of swap deal.

It still remains to be seen if they actually want Otavio or not – this could all be transfer rumours. If the Reds would like him, though, we think they can make it happen.