Liverpool in line to profit from Tiago Ilori's transfer from Reading to Sporting Lisbon

David Lynch28 January 2019

Liverpool are in line to profit should Tiago Ilori complete an expected move from Reading to Sporting Lisbon this week.

According to reports, the 25-year-old is currently in the Portuguese capital putting the finishing touches on a return to the club whose academy he initially emerged from.

And the Reds could be in line to benefit thanks to a sell-on clause inserted in the deal that saw Ilori depart Anfield for the Madejski Stadium in January 2017.

Liverpool will receive 25 per cent of any profit Reading make on the £3.75m they paid to secure the defender’s signature two years ago.

Ilori was billed as a potential future star when he joined the Reds from Sporting’s youth setup in September 2013.

Born in London to a Nigerian father and Portuguese mother, it was reported that the Football Association were attempting to convince the centre-back to switch his national allegiance to England around the time of his move to Merseyside.

However, he failed to earn senior recognition for either Portugal - who he had featured for at youth level - or his country of birth during a disappointing spell at Anfield.

Ilori made just three appearances for Liverpool’s first team between loan stints at Granada, Bordeaux and Aston Villa.

He has clocked up 64 outings for Reading since his 2017 move, but now appears set for a return to Portugal.

Should the transfer fee exceed that paid to Liverpool by the Royals, then a quarter of the profits will be sent back to Anfield.

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