Liverpool have scouted Benfica defender Francisco Reis Ferreira, according to reports in Portugal.

The Reds are not the only team interested in the 21-year-old, though, with Manchester City also tracking the player.

Reis Ferreira, commonly known as Ferro, has been on Liverpool’s radar for some time with the Merseyside club said to have offered to loan the centre-back in 2017, in view to a permanent £10m transfer.

At the time, however, Benfica rejected the deal and they still remain determined to keep hold of the Portuguese Under 21 international.

Ferro reportedly has an £85m release clause which would need to be triggered for his team to let him go. It means the Reds would have to break the £75m record they paid for Virgil van Dijk in order to bring him in.

As well as the Reds and City, manager Jurgen Klopp’s former team Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keen on the defender, who has a contract until 2023.