Report: Liverpool ask Pep Lijnders to scout £33m midfielder, did the same with Diogo Jota

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Liverpool have assistant coach Pep Lijnders scouting Vitinha, according to reports out of Portugal. They did the same with Diogo Jota.

This comes from O Jogo. They claim that Liverpool have Pep Lijnders scouting FC Porto midfielder Vitinha, with a view to signing the player.

They’re not the only major European club looking at the player, however, and will have eyes on his £33m release clause. It’s worth noting that Porto don’t intend to sell Vitinha and would request the full clause if the 22-year-old were to leave the club.

Liverpool scout Vitinha

So the notable thing here is that Liverpool have Lijnders looking into this one. He used to work at Porto as a coach and retains connections there, meaning he’s able to find out quite a bit about Vitinha.

It was reportedly a strategy Liverpool used before signing Diogo Jota. The Times claimed back then Lijnders was instrumental in the transfer, again using contacts to properly scout what Jota was like.

Liverpool, of course, liked what they found out and pushed forward with the deal. Doing the same with Vitinha suggests there’s quite a bit about his game that they like – now they just want to know if he’s a fit personality-wise.

As for who Vitinha is, he’s a 22-year-old midfielder who’s capable of playing centrally or in a holding role. He offers a little bit of everything from the positions, too.

Vitinha is comfortable in possession, will win tackles, interceptions, get shots off – everything Liverpool like to see. He’d fit the all-action midfield that Jurgen Klopp likes.

And if he ticks the work rate and personality boxes, Liverpool may well see a signing here. £33m isn’t too much for the right player – it just depends on what Lijnders hears. One to watch, undoubtedly.