Liverpool remain keen to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Joao Mario despite having bid rejected

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to increase their offer for Sporting Lisbon winger Joao Mario. The sought-after 23-year-old, who recently starred for Portugal at Euro 2016, is the subject of interest from a host of clubs across Europe and despite recently having a bid rejected, Liverpool remain interested in signing him.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is reported to have already bid as much as €40m (£33.9m, $44.5m) for the player. But he is willing to increase that offer as the German sets about reconstructing his squad at Anfield, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola.

However, Liverpool face stiff competition to sign Mario from Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, all of whom have been impressed by his rapid progress over the last 12 months. Mario has a €60m release clause and while Sporting do expect to receive that amount in full, they remain hopeful of pocketing considerably more than the €40m offer from Liverpool.

Sporting had hoped to convince Mario to sign a new deal and to stay at the club for another season. But it now appears increasingly likely he will be on the move this month, especially after his father revealed the interest in his son from foreign clubs.

"Joao had two concrete offers," he said in July. "One from Inter, which was 35 million plus 10 million for objectives." Meanwhile, Liverpool have already signed Sadio Mane, Loris Karius, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Manninger this summer.