Liverpool sent scouts to ‘watch’ Manuel Ugarte as Uruguayan journalist ‘confirms’ interest

Liverpool scouts were reportedly present at Sporting CP’s game on Sunday, with midfielder Manuel Ugarte linked with a move to Anfield.

As the Reds celebrated their late 4-3 win over Tottenham, the recruitment process continued with scouts in Portugal.

According to reliable Twitter user @scoutsattending, representatives of Liverpool and Newcastle have been following Sunday night’s clash between Sporting CP and Famalicao.

Their intended targets are believed to have been midfielder Ugarte and centre-back Goncalo Inacio, with the Reds credited with an interest in both.

According to reports from CNN Portugal, O Jogo and A Bola, Liverpool made contact with Sporting over the weekend over a deal for Ugarte. The 22-year-old defensive midfielder is expected to leave Lisbon this summer, with Sporting retaining his €60m (£52.7m) release clause.

These reports have now been confirmed by Uruguayan journalist Brahian Kuchman, who tweeted that “the information is real” and “there is interest”.

It is now often the case that Liverpool’s transfer activity is most reliably covered in a player’s home country or in that of the league in which he plays.

With Ugarte, it now applies to both, although it remains to be seen whether these first talks with Sporting will translate into a concrete step for the midfielder.

Liverpool are interested in a string of midfielders ahead of a summer transfer window with at least two signings and four departures.

Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenberch have been strongly linked as of late, along with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Joao Palhinha, Khephran Thuram, Matheus Nunes, Conor Gallagher and Alex Scott. Only a few are from the form of Ugarte, who suggests that in the role of No. 6 with interest in him, Caicedo and Palhinha, that the competition for Fabinho is sought.

Ugarte contested 73 minutes of the 2-1 win on Sunday against the former club Famalicao, which was withdrawn in the second half after taking a yellow card.

He operated as part of a two-man central unit in a 3-4-3 formation, with Inacio in the middle of a trio of central defenders.

Hidemasa Morita and Ricardo Esgaio gates gave the sport two goals, only for the goal of ex-Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates in the second half.

With a Bola after the victory of his team, manager Ruben Amorim recognized a potential interest in Monaco midfielder Jean Lucas, while joking that he “saw in a newspaper that Ugarte has already been sold”.

He added that Dani Braganca “comes back” after a long -term injury and that the teenager Dario Esgo “needs more space”, which points out that there is already a succession plan.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp tells Liverpool fans: ‘Stop singing my song!’

Jurgen Klopp has sent a message to Liverpool fans after hearing his name being chanted at Anfield as his side went 3-0 up at Tottenham Hotspur.

Anfield is known for its atmosphere and Liverpool fans have long shown their love for the club by singing about their players and managers.

One chant that gained traction last season was to the tune of The Beatles’ ‘I Feel Fine’, with lyrics adapted to honor the Liverpool boss.

After the Reds’ 4-3 win against Tottenham, Klopp asked fans not to chant his name during the game.

The coach explained: “At 3-0 it wasn’t the result due to a sensational climate. “Practically everyone got it wrong, everyone.”

Klopp complimented the fans’ songs, saying he likes “all of them”, but he added: “My song, don’t sing it.

“If you want to sing it, sing it after the game at the bar, anywhere.

“Because it’s almost like closing the game, we’re 3-0 up [after 15 minutes] and they start with ‘I’m so glad Jurgen is red’ and I was like ‘It’s not over yet’.

“So it would be really cool if you could save that for later.”

It’s not a new message from Klopp.

Even at the start of his tenure, when Liverpool fans chanted the German’s name to Opus’ ‘Live is Life’, the manager asked fans to stop chanting his name during matches. After a win over Leicester in 2016, Klopp told fans: “Please don’t chant my name until the game is decided.”

“That’s good, but it’s not necessary,” he added. “It would be really nice if you could stop, please!”

After Sunday’s win, Klopp went to the Kop and showed the crowd his signature fist pumps – something we haven’t seen much of this season.

We’re not sure the fans will fully comply with Klopp’s request, but the next time Liverpool take the lead there may be less party atmosphere at Anfield.