Liverpool have joined Manchester United in the battle to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves, according to reports in the Portuguese media.

The 22-year-old has been drawing comparisons with Bruno Fernandes, after scoring 14 goals and providing three assists in 20 appearances this season, and interest is believed to be growing in the player.

Goncalves’s rise has been pretty rapid as he was only released by Wolves eighteen months ago but he has excelled back in his native Portugal, helping to guide Sporting to the top of the Primeira Liga table.

His importance to the Portuguese club, though, means he won’t be sold for a low fee, with it being reported that any club would have to pay the midfielder’s €60m (£53m) release clause in order to secure his signature.

Whether Liverpool would have that kind of money to spend on Goncalves in the summer, it does seem unlikely, currently, with most of the transfer budget likely to be put towards a new centre-back or forward.