Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Must Capitalise on Fabio Sturgeon's English Ties

Liverpool are reported to be eyeing up the prospect of signing Portuguese youth international Fabio Sturgeon this winter in a bid to boost their attacking reserves.

The Mirror's James Nursey writes that the Belenenses youngster is worth £2.4 million and is eligible to represent England through his father, an advantage which should be taken into account with his potential acquisition:

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The Portugal Under-20 international is also still eligible to play for England. Sturgeon began training with the Belenenses first team as a 17-year-old and has now made 24 appearances, including five this term. He was born in the Lisbon suburbs to a Portuguese mother and his ex-pat dad.

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Nursey adds that Brendan Rodgers has sent scouts to watch the attacking midfielder-cum-forward on several occasions already this season, confirming the interest held in his talents.

And the feeling is seemingly mutual, too, considering the player is understood to be keen on a Premier League switch, rather than move to one of Europe's other top tiers.

It's positive news for Rodgers, who after spending so much over the summer, could certainly do with stumbling upon a bargain (or more), although Sturgeon would not have any first-team guarantees in 2015.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Following the purchases of Tiago Ilori and Lazar Markovic in recent years from Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, respectively, the Reds are making a habit out of investment in Portugal's Primeira Liga.

Sturgeon has played in five of Belenenses' seven games so far this season, per Transfermarkt, starting in each outing and scoring one goal in the process.

Having spent close to £20 million on Markovic over the summer, Liverpool fans haven't quite seen the return they may have hoped for, but the former Benfica starlet told Italian newspaper Mondo (h/t Goal.com's Peter Hanson) he'll need time to settle:

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You know how things go in football. I'm getting there and adjusting well. It will take a little more time but, all in all, I feel okay. I feel great there and everybody has been great with me. I could not wish for more. I'm happy and that is the most important thing.

My team-mate is the legendary Steven Gerrard, the fans love me and Anfield is great but, as I said, I just need a little bit more time.

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Should Sturgeon follow suit and move to Anfield, Rodgers will hope for a much swifter transition, but his reduced price-tag makes him a far smaller risk in kind.

Sturgeon's English allegiances also work in his favour to an extent. So often are players motivated to change clubs for money or other means, but having that connection to the English top flight is a factor not every star can boast.

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Rodgers could do with the increased options, too, after experiencing life without a fully fit Daniel Sturridge and watching Mario Balotelli thus far fail to hit the heights expected of him.

This has, in turn, led to an increase in pressure on the shoulders of 19-year-old Raheem Sterling, who was "too tired" to start England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia, per ESPN:

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Roy Hodgson defends Raheem Sterling after leaving him out of England line-up because 19-year-old said he was 'tired' http://t.co/1zEtErit9n

— ESPN.co.uk (@ESPNUK) October 12, 2014"

For one so young to be given so much responsibility in a squad comprising Champions League winners and World Cup contenders speaks volumes of the work that's still to be done on Merseyside, with offensive reinforcements apparently needed.

Sturgeon may not by any means be considered a member of the Reds' first team upon moving, but his early promise shown in Portugal's first tier makes him a valuable commodity.

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Foreign players sometimes lack in what it means to represent a club, but Sturgeon's English connections give him an edge that's worth investigating, not dissimilar to that which Tottenham Hotspur invested in with former Sporting defender Eric Dier.

The forward will be more familiar with the club than your average recruit from abroad, and that can so often tend to influence a player's product, which in Sturgeon's case, could warrant the relatively small investment.