Liverpool have registered their interest in Sporting CP forward Francisco Trincao as they prepare for the departure of Mohamed Salah, according to a report from Anfield Index. The Premier League club are understood to have made serious enquiries about the Portuguese international, who could be available for a fee in the region of €60 million (£52 million) due to a release clause in his contract.
The 26-year-old left-footed attacker, who can operate as a right winger or a number ten, is viewed as a potential successor to Salah on the right flank. The Egyptian icon is set to leave Anfield on a free transfer this summer after nine years, creating a significant void in Liverpool's attack. The report draws a parallel with Salah's own career trajectory, noting that Trincao, like Salah did at Chelsea, had a previous stint in England that did not yield immediate success.
Trincao spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring three goals in 30 appearances across all competitions. Since returning to Portugal with Sporting, however, his form has been transformative. This season, he has contributed 12 goals and 18 assists in 50 matches, a level of productivity that has reportedly caught the attention of Liverpool's recruitment staff led by sporting director Richard Hughes.
The player recently signed a new deal with Sporting, but the inclusion of a €60 million release clause provides a clear path for a potential transfer. For Sporting, that fee would represent significant profit on a player they signed from Barcelona. For Liverpool, it would be a substantial but structured investment in a player entering his prime years, with the hope he can adapt to the Premier League more effectively in his second attempt.
Liverpool's search for attacking reinforcements is not limited to Trincao. The same report notes that the club have opened official talks for RB Leipzig's Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, whom they view as having world-class potential. Leipzig's efforts to extend Diomande's contract, however, have complicated that pursuit. Other names under consideration include Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, Porto's Francisco Conceicao, and Newcastle United's Yankuba Minteh, indicating a broad and active search.
The potential move for Trincao represents a strategic shift towards a more experienced profile compared to some of the younger targets. His versatility to play across the front line and his improved creative output in Portugal are seen as key assets. The looming departure of Salah, a three-time PFA Player of the Year, marks the end of an era at Anfield, and the club's recruitment this summer will be pivotal in shaping their attacking identity for the coming years.
