Liverpool target 20-year-old Porto goal machine but £85m release clause looms

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We aren't just talking about replacing a fan favourite or a quick pair of legs; we are talking about replacing a goal machine who consistently guaranteed 20 to 30 goals a season for nearly a decade.Though former sporting director Richard Hughes and the recruitment team threw serious money around triggering Victor Muñoz’s €40m (£34m) release clause and shelling out a jaw-dropping £123m for Bradley Barcola there remains a glaring problem in Andoni Iraola’s frontline. Both Muñoz and Barcola prefer operating off the left flank.Late summer attempts for Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh collapsed, leaving Iraola without a natural, left-footed goalscorer on the right side of his 4-2-3-1 system.However, reports coming out of Portugal suggest Liverpool may have finally found their long-term heir.

Portuguese outlet A Bola claims the Reds have kept FC Porto’s 20-year-old Brazilian starlet, William Gomes, "very highly rated on their list of potential targets" for a planned move.Crucially, Gomes isn't a traditional playmaker. He won't come cheap, and he certainly won't arrive overnight.Porto officially tied Gomes down to a new long-term deal running until June 2031, bumping his release clause from €80m to a staggering €100m (around £85m).

He's attracted interest from many clubs, and we haven't ignored that, but his commitment to Porto has been total. He's a player who breaks all the statistical records through his effort and dedication."Porto manager Francesco Farioli was even more direct when asked about a potential mid-season transfer:"The renewal was necessary, and the numbers in the release clause make me more comfortable.