Liverpool have entered the chase to sign Porto midfielder Fernando, who will be a free agent next summer.
According to Sky Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, several Premier League club like Everton and Manchester United are interested in buying him including Liverpool. The player is demanding a high salary which could be a stumbling block for many of the clubs.
Fernando is a central defensive midfielder. He is only 26 and has a wealth of experience under his belt. The best thing about him is his positional awareness and he looks a great prospect.
Defensive midfield is one of the key areas that have evolved leaps and bounds in modern era. Gone are the days where by defensive midfielders, we only meant a robust tackler or a a ball snatcher.
Nowadays, under the large bonnet of defensive midfielders, we have regista or deep lying play-makers like Xabi Alonso, pure defensive minded midfielders like Sergio Busquets or John Obi Mikel, hybrid of holding and box-to-box like Sami Khedira and so on.
Fernando is more of a Mikel type of player, whose main job is to break up opposition attacks and holding up position in order to keep the team in shape when out of possession and most importantly when with the ball. He stays deep, helps out the defence, very calm and composed in passing, possesses good range of shots and has an assured presence in the midfield.
Liverpool have Lucas Leiva as the only defensive midfielder in the side. Though the Brazilian is a top class player, no doubt, but I still feel, Liverpool need another defensive midfielder. Lucas is a typical midfield volante who often leaves his position leaving the defence unprotected. He fails to provide that defensive shield which is the primary task of a defensive midfielder. Fernando does not move forward too much but in return he does best what is exactly expected of him.
Check out Fernando Reges performance against Austria Vienna. Take note of his defensive awareness, ball retention ability and his physical presence as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhnOcnAJnWA
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