Liverpool face potential Manuel Ugarte transfer headache amid superagent confusion

Liverpool are interested in signing Sporting Lisbon's Manuel Ugarte this summer, according to reports - but they may encounter a superagent headache if they launch a bid for the midfielder.

The Uruguay international has emerged as a target for Jurgen Klopp's side in recent days, with the Daily Mail claiming that the Reds sent scouts to watch the defensive midfielder play over the weekend.

The 22-year-old played 72 minutes in Sporting's 2-1 victory over Famalicao in the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

His combative style will have impressed Reds scouts - no player in the division has recorded a higher average than Ugarte's 3.9 tackles per game, as per WhoScored. He has received 10 yellow cards and one red card in 29 appearances, however, which could be something for Liverpool to address if he moves to Anfield.

Portuguese outlet O Jogo report that a summer move for Ugarte is 'practically inevitable' - but the Reds do have a hurdle they will need to jump over to secure the player's signature.

Liverpool superagent headache emerges amid potential move

According to the Liverpool Echo, Ugarte is connected to the renowned football 'superagent', Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese previously had Cristiano Ronaldo on his list of clients, while he also represents Liverpool stars Darwin Nunez, Fabinho and Diogo Jota through his founded agency, Gestifute.

But the Echo claim that Ugarte is represented by Jorge Chijane, who has formed a partnership with Mendes.

It is said that details of their relationship are scarce - which may cause the Reds some issues in comparison to the deals agreed for Jota, Fabinho and Nunez to move to Anfield.

Spanish outlet Sport claimed that Mendes offered Ugarte to Barcelona back in March, as a potential replacement for Sergio Busquets if the veteran Spanish midfielder departed Camp Nou at the end of the season.

If Liverpool do launch a bid for Ugarte, they will hope to race ahead of Barcelona in the battle to sign him, and that there are no issues with the player's agent situation when it comes to concluding negotiations.