Liverpool to lodge improved offer for Joao Mario

The Reds are said to have already had a £33.5million bid rejected by Sporting to sign Mario as Jurgen Klopp looks to fill the void left by Joe Allen, who joined Stoke for £13m.

However, Portuguese newspaper A Bola claim the Reds have not given up in their pursuit of Mario and will lodge a new and improved bid in an attempt to lure him to Anfield.

But Klopp may struggle to get his man.

That is according to the player's father, who supposedly hinted to Portuguese outlet Diario de Noticias that Sporting are unlikely to accept an offer lower than £50m.

“Proposals for the lad don’t come directly to me," Joao Mario Eduardo said.

“They go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting President. I was informed, however, that the club said no to a €35m (£29.3m) bid plus €10m (£8.4m) in bonuses from Inter and €40m (£33.5m) from Liverpool.

“Nothing particular has happened, my son is a professional and knows he has a contract with Sporting.”

The report adds Klopp will face competition for Mario's signature with Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain being credited with interest.

Source: Daily Express

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