According to reports, Brisbane Roar are set to form a partnership with Portuguese powerhouse Sporting Lisbon which could see the clubs develop a player exchange program.
The Courier Mail is reporting that the three-time Hyundai A-League champions are close to formalising an arrangement with the 18-time Portuguese Champions.
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Brisbane managing director Daniel Cobb is set to embark on a tour of Europe later this week to visit Lisbon among other clubs to help establish connections with the Roar.
But it is understood Lisbon is of most interest to Cobb with the Roar keen to establish a network which would allow the clubs to engage in player development and the potential loan deals.
One of the biggest clubs in Portugal, Sporting has produced some of the world’s best players including Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal, who won the 2016 European Championship this week, had no less than 10 players who had progressed through the Lisbon Academy involved in the final against France.
The likes of Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, William Carvalho and Joao Mario all spent time at the Academia Sporting as they progressed through to professional football.
Meanwhile, the Roar are expected to release out of favour defender Jerome Polenz this week after the German was absent from training on Monday.
The former Wanderer played just one game under John Aloisi last season.
