Liverpool transfer news: Fernando 'linked' as Manchester City midfielder's former club Porto join hunt

The Brazilian is reportedly unlikely to be kept on by incoming head coach Pep Guardiola

Manchester City's Fernando does battle with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (Getty Images)

Liverpool have been linked with Manchester City midfielder Fernando, who is also reportedly attracting interest from his former club Porto.

The 28-year-old is unlikely to be kept on by Pep Guardiola when the current Bayern Munich head coach assumes control at the Etihad in the summer, according to The Sun.

Jurgen Klopp, in preparation of an end-of-season squad overhaul at Anfield, is supposedly monitoring Fernando’s situation.

Liverpool would be willing to compete with the Brazilian’s old club for his signature but are not willing to offer more than £10million to their Premier League rivals.

Earlier this week, reports suggested that the club were prepared to step up their interest in another midfielder: Poland international Piotr Zielinski, currently playing on loan at Empoli from Udinese.

Zielinski, a dynamic 21-year-old box-to-box midfielder, is believed to be valued at around £11million. Both he or Fernando could be seen as a replacement for Joe Allen, who is expected to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

Since moving to the Etihad two years ago, for a fee believed to be in the region of £12million, Fernando has struggled to establish himself at the club.

Despite enjoying regular game-time in his debut season, the Brazilian’s opportunities have been more limited this term, with just 11 league starts.