Liverpool set to offer Benfica £21m for Brazilian star who has contributed to 15 goals this season

Liverpool are set to make Benfica an offer for attacking midfielder Anderson Talisca that would activate his release clause according to the Turkish newspaper, Takvim.

Talisca has a £21 million release clause fee according to Besiktas president Fikret Orman.

“He is a great kid and the fans love him but we will not be able to activate his €25 million [£21 million] release clause,” Orman was quoted as saying.

Turkish-Football recently reported that Liverpool have been scouting Talisca throughout the season.

Portuguese publication O Jogo revealed that Talisca was on the verge of a move to Liverpool last season but that the deal broke down as he was unable to gain a work permit.

Liverpool could however, face competition from Manchester United who have also been scouting the attacking midfielder.

Turkish-Football were alerted to United interest in Talisca from a source close to Besiktas.

See More: 3 reasons £21m Talisca would be a success at Manchester United

United boss Jose Mourinho has been a long term admirer of Talisca.

Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster TVI24 [via Daily Star] in 2014, Mourinho said: “I think Benfica hired well. They say Talisca is unknown, but he is only so unknown because he’s only not playing in England because he doesn’t have a work permit. If he had one, he would be here!

“There were many English teams, great teams and important, that wanted him. Moreover, there were those who wanted to sign him, even though he could not play for now.

“They wanted to sign him, put him in a minor league [on loan] and hope that eventually he came to be selected [for Brazil’s national team], and would consequently then get the work permit.”

Talisca is currently on loan at Besiktas were he has set the league alight, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in all competitions.

Besiktas president Fikret Orman reluctantly admitted that despite wanting to keep Talisca on the club would be unable to activate his release fee.

Orman did cling to the hope that Talisca sees out his two-year loan deal.

The club president also underlined that Besiktas would be in a financial position to make a £21 million offer the following summer.

“Talisca has been in great form and is definitely an upgrade on Jose Sosa,” Orman was quoted as saying by Turkish-Football.

“There is simply no way we can afford him at the end of the season, the following season we would but will he be available be then? I don’t know.”