Francisco Conceicao has addressed the reports linking him to Liverpool as the Premier League champions assess their transfer options to replace the departing Mohamed Salah.
Modern-day Reds legend Salah dropped a bombshell on Tuesday night (March 24) when he confirmed he would be leaving the club at the end of the season after nine decorated years.
After tributes were paid by team-mates, past and present, supporters and pundits, attention has started to turn to who Liverpool could target to succeed a player who has scored 255 goals in 435 games at Anfield.
One of the names reportedly in the frame is £52m-rated Juventus and Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao.
And the speculation has clearly reached the player himself after he was asked about the links ahead of Portugal's friendlies with Mexico and the USA over the international break.
Conceicao said: “I know people talk about a big club, but I play for a big club where I am happy.
“At the moment I am only focused on these two games with the national team and then I will focus on the final stretch of the season to help my club as much as possible.”
Conceicao joined Juventus, initially on loan, from Porto in August 2024, and after taking over the No.7 shirt left vacant by Federico Chiesa's departure to Liverpool, he scored seven goals in 40 appearances last summer.
The 23-year-old was a key transfer target for the Reds' Merseyside rivals Everton during the summer but he instead completed a €32m permanent move to the Italian giants, where has netted a further four goals in 34 appearances so far this season.
With Juventus in a fierce fight to qualify for the Champions League, Conceicao added: “I am at a big club where the pressure to win is very high. I just have to keep working and contribute with goals and assists.
“My objective is to help with goals and assists, that is what I try to do. I must continue every day to show that I have the ability to help the national team and be helped by them to keep improving”.
Conceicao is not the only wide forward reportedly on the Reds' radar.
Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande have also been tipped as potential replacements for Salah.
But whereas Juventus' stance on losing Conceicao is unknown, Bayern have made it clear they have no intention of losing Olise, the former Crystal Palace winger who is enjoying the season of his life.
Munich chief executive Uli Hoeness bluntly said: "Remember Liverpool spent €500m last summer and is having a very bad season.
"So we won't be contributing to them playing better next year."
While Bayern director of sport, Max Eberl, said: "We're not even wasting a thought on that.
"He is a Bayern Munich player and has every opportunity here that top players could wish for. We want to shape the future with him."
