Richard Hughes intending to trigger £52m clause for Portugal forward | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah is now entering the final stretch as a Liverpool player.

The Egyptian King will be leaving at the end of the season - having reached an agreement to cut up his £400k per week deal one year early.

Liverpool have been linked with plenty of pacy, one-v-one specialists as a potential Salah replacement ever since it was announced that the 33-year-old would be leaving.

Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande appear top of the list - although Anfield Watch also brought you news that Franck Honorat was also under consideration.

But there is also another player that Liverpool are now taking concrete steps to sign.

That’s according to a report in Caught Offside - which claims the Premier League champions are ahead of Chelsea in the race for Francisco Trincao.

Liverpool "intend" to sign Trincao

Trincao, 26, has been in fine form for Portuguese giants Sporting CP this season - efficiently putting his career back together following tough spells at both Barcelona and Wolves.

The Portugal international is contracted to the Lisbon side until 2030 but has got an intriguing-looking €60m (£52m) release clause. That could prove too tempting for Richard Hughes to resist.

“The 26-year-old is now attracting attention from several Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Chelsea both linked with a possible summer move,” the report reads.

“His current Sporting contract runs until 2030, while recent reports claim his deal includes a €60 million release clause, giving interested clubs a clear figure to work with.

“Liverpool appear to be moving with real intent, Chelsea are watching closely, and Sporting know they possess a player whose value has risen sharply.”

Francisco Trincão: Situation summary

Francisco Trincão is a 26‑year‑old Portuguese winger/second forward for Sporting CP, previously of Braga, Barcelona and Wolves, and a full international for Portugal.

He joined Sporting permanently in 2023 and is tied down on a long‑term deal reportedly running to 2030.

On the pitch, Trincão is a left‑footed right‑sider who plays as a creator more than a pure touchline winger, constantly receiving between the lines, driving inside to combine and shoot from the half‑spaces.

He offers sharp ball‑striking and subtle passing rather than pure explosiveness, but can be streaky and disappear when games become very physical.

The key structural point is his €60m release clause, which gives Sporting serious leverage: they are under no pressure to sell below that figure and can treat any interest from top‑five‑league clubs as opportunistic unless someone steps up close to the clause, with the Champions League functioning as his main shop window for a potential move.