According to a report from Spanish newspaper Marca in their Wednesday edition, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side will make an official bid to sign defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi from La Liga giants Real Madrid. Both the player and the former European champions were looking to get some sort of a deal done as in the previous campaign under Carlo Ancelotti but it was in vain. The 25-year old has found it difficult to get into the first team and if a proper bid comes in, Madrid might not hesitate to sell the Spaniard.
However, Rafa Benitez’s arrival at the Bernabeu has changed things entirely, giving the transfer saga a whole new direction now.
The report compares the Spanish U-23 international to ‘Xabi Alonso’, whom Benitez used quite well during his time at Anfield, when he was in charge of the Reds.
The former Kop boss is a huge admirer of the midfielder’s qualities and might look to keep him in Madrid, rather than sell him.
Regardless of this fondness, the Spaniard also has Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in his squad, who will both be preferred over their team-mate which could see the Merseyside outfit push a deal through, as they look to further strengthen their squad.