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Givairo Read has been tipped to join Arne Slot at Anfield, a year after the Liverpool boss gave the 19-year-old his debut, but the ink is still drying on a new Feyenoord contract.

The stellar display produced by Roger Fernandes during Braga’s 1-1 draw with Famalicao on Friday night, meanwhile, is unlikely to go unnoticed amongst the talent-scouts on Merseyside.

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TBR Football reported in March that Liverpool joined Manchester City in scouting Roger Fernandes.

Newcastle, West Ham, Manchester United, Napoli, Atalanta and the Portuguese power duo of Benfica and Porto have also watched Fernandes over the last year or so.

He is a player with great positioning, dribbling ability, and can play progressive passes.’

Now, Roger Fernandes, who has a £34 million release clause in his contract, tends to play as a right-sided attacker in Braga’s 4-2-3-1 system.

But given that Slot likes to play with a dynamic full-back charging beyond his inverted wingers, the right-back position held in a vice-like grip by Alexander-Arnold over the last half-century may suit him like a glove.

Photo by Miguel Lemos/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Making his return from a near-two month injury lay-off against Famalicao – Fernandes only needed 19 minutes to remind the Braga supporters of his importance.

The Guinea Bissau-born 19-year-old charged down the right-hand side, latching onto the sort of chipped pass with which Alexis Mac Allister excels, and drilled the ball across the face.

Only Roger Pinheiro deflecting it into his own net denied Fernandes a seventh assist – and a 13th goal contribution – of an impressive breakout campaign.

A genuinely two-footed player, Fernandes had already come close moments earlier with a sweet, curling shot with his left.

“The introduction of the young Portuguese-Guinean winger completely changed Braga’s attacking game,” A Bola write, labelling Fernandes the Man of the Match despite him only playing the final 45 minutes.

The Primeira Liga outfit, like Liverpool, like to draw their wingers in-field, closer to the goal, with the full-back expects to provide width and no shortage of attacking threat.

That is where Roger Fernandes truly excels.

“Braga is a team that places its wingers a bit inside and stretches the game a lot,” explains Carvalhal, the former Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday day.
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