Speaking recently on the Here We Go podcast, established reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed that Liverpool had several bids rejected for centre-back David Carmo in the January transfer window.
With Liverpool having claimed for the majority of January that they would not be attempting to sign a new centre-back in the winter window despite potentially season-ending injuries to both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, the club eventually went back on their word, landing Preston North End defender Ben Davies as well as Schalke centre-back Ozan Kabak on transfer deadline day.
However, according to Romano, speaking on a recent episode of the Here We Go podcast, Jurgen Klopp’s side also attempted to sign Sporting Braga’s 21-year-old centre-back David Carmo, although the Portuguese side rejected the Reds’ advances.
He said: “Before moving on Kabak, during the morning of the deadline day, they were trying for David Carmo from Braga. They made an official bid to Braga during the night [before] and Braga turned down this bid because they wanted [his] €30 million release clause. Braga turned down the bid and Liverpool started negotiations during the morning with Ozan Kabak.
“The negotiations [for Kabak were] really complicated. During lunchtime, he was having a medical and everything to be ready – but the two clubs had some problems with the option and the obligation to buy. So, the loan was not so sure [and Liverpool] were negotiating, in this moment, to have also a plan B.
“Liverpool were in contact again with Braga for Carmo, they made another bid, it was an important bid, the second one to Braga and the president of Braga turned it down again. So, obviously, Carmo was dreaming of joining Liverpool.
“[So, at] lunchtime, while Kabak was having [his] medical they were trying also with Carmo because they wanted two big options to be ready. Then, during the afternoon, they solved their problems with Schalke and they signed Kabak.”
Should Liverpool return for Carmo this summer?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Fabrizio Romano’s comments regarding David Carmo…
So, from Romano’s comments, it would indeed appear as if Liverpool were close to signing Carmo, however, Braga wanted the club to pay the defender’s €30 million (£26.4 million) release clause, something that the Reds were clearly not prepared to do after finding an agreement with Schalke for Kabak.
However, with the £7.65 million-rated centre-back being just 21 years old, and – if Romano is to be believed – with Liverpool fancying the defender as a talented player and a good prospect for the future, it would not surprise us to see the Portugal U20 international linked with a move to more big clubs in the summer, be that Liverpool or someone else.