Liverpool have agreed a £5m deal that will see Rafa Camacho join Sporting Lisbon.
The Reds have reluctantly accepted the young midfielder’s departure after he refused to sign a new contract… despite agreeing terms in principle back in January.
Anfield bosses had a preference to loan the player out, with Schalke, Wolves and AC Milan all interested in the 19 year old.
But Camacho was worried about game time, and pushed to be allowed to join Sporting on a permanent deal, which could be worth £7m in total to Liverpool , with add-ons.
Camacho was ready to extend at Anfield, but that was dependent on a loan deal which was agreed with the Lisbon club last January which subsequently fell through.
The Reds under 23 player - who has made one appearance for the first team - was prepared to sit our the final year of his current deal, and sign a pre-contract agreement with Sporting in January.
That promoted the English club to reluctantly accept the £5m on offer for the Portugal U18 international, rather than lose him for just a £270,000 compensation fee next summer.
Liverpool have also retained a 20 per cent sell on clause, and they see the deal struck with Sporting as offering the best opportunity to realising the best return on the player.
Camacho originally joined Liverpool from Manchester City on a free transfer back in 2015, when they Reds moved quickly despite interest in the midfielder from Manchester United .
