Liverpool, Chelsea have bids rejected for Joao Mario

Matt Stead

Liverpool and Chelsea are among four clubs to have had bids rejected for Portugal midfielder Joao Mario.

The 23-year-old impressed at Euro 2016 and helped Portugal win the tournament, making six starts in the competition, including the 1-0 final win over France. He even made the Ignorant Scout’s XI.

The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has been linked with a move after impressing in France, and his father revealed that Liverpool and Inter Milan both had offers rejected.

The player’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has now confirmed those reports.

“A European champion must be rewarded,” he said. “From now on, we either discuss a new contract or the sale to another club.

“Sporting received four offers. Inter Milan and Liverpool, certainly, with amounts between 35 and 40 million, plus bonuses. Sporting turned down all bids.”

Portuguese newspaper Record claims that the other two clubs to have bids rejected were Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Joao Mario has a €60m release clause.