Liverpool have made concrete moves to sign Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP as they prepare for Mohamed Salah's departure this summer, according to reports. The Portuguese winger is being eyed as a potential replacement for the Egyptian forward, who will leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season. The club's recruitment team has registered its interest and taken tangible steps towards securing the 26-year-old's signature.
Trincao has impressed at Sporting this season with 13 goals and 18 assists in 52 appearances, catching the attention of Liverpool's technical staff. The Portuguese maestro offers tactical flexibility, capable of operating both on the right flank and in a central attacking role. His versatility appeals to Arne Slot's blueprint as the club navigates two significant attacking departures. Beyond Salah's exit, Hugo Ekitike's Achilles injury will sideline the French striker for six to nine months, forcing the Reds into the market for multiple reinforcements.
Competition Heats Up for Trincao Signature
Liverpool are described as moving with "real intent" to beat rival suitors Arsenal and Chelsea to the deal. Both clubs are monitoring the situation closely, yet the Merseyside outfit's aggressive pursuit suggests serious conviction. Sporting are expected to demand Trincao's full €60million (£52m) release clause, setting a clear price for negotiations. The club will not entertain cut-price offers for their key asset.
Trincao's trajectory mirrors Salah's redemption arc. A previous loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers yielded just three goals in 30 appearances, marking him as a Premier League flop. However, his subsequent development at Sporting mirrors how Salah revived his career at Roma before joining Liverpool in July 2017. Should Trincao make the switch to England, he would attempt to prove doubters wrong—much as the Egyptian legend did en route to becoming one of the division's finest attackers.
Earlier speculation linked Trincao with Manchester United and Ruben Amorim, but that prospect evaporated when Amorim's tenure ended in January. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande remains Liverpool's primary target for the right-wing position, suggesting the club is keeping multiple options open. Trincao could emerge as a secondary choice or tactical alternative depending on how summer negotiations unfold and wider squad reconstruction priorities shift.
