Reds closing in double swoop for Spanish full-backs Moreno and Manquillo. Successful end to season-long chase of Sevilla star would take close-season spending to over £100m. Liverpool FC are closing in on a double swoop for Spanish full-backs Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo. The Reds have reopened talks with Sevilla over left-back Moreno and are confident their summer-long pursuit of the Spain international will finally reach a successful conclusion. A deal for Atletico Madrid right-back Manquillo is at a more advanced stage with Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre having flown to the Spanish capital to complete the transfer. The 20-year-old is expected to sign initially on loan but the Reds will have an option to make the move permanent. Securing the services of Moreno and Manquillo will delight boss Brendan Rodgers, who has been desperate to secure defensive reinforcements. Moreno was always Liverpools number one left-back target but negotiations with Sevilla stalled. The Reds initial offer of £16million back in May was rejected with the La Liga outfit holding out for in excess of £20million. Sevillas demands led to Liverpool looking at other options, including Swansea Citys Ben Davies and Chelseas Ryan Bertrand. However, the Reds missed out on Davies because Swansea would only sell to Tottenham as the Welsh outfit wanted to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson as part of the deal. Liverpool then targeted Bertrand and were willing to meet Chelseas £8million valuation but the Londoners simply refused to sell to a club they view as Premier League title rivals. Bertrand has now joined Southampton on a season-long loan and that has prompted the Reds to make another move for Moreno, who is understood to be keen on making the switch to Anfield. Moreno, 21, shone in La Liga last season and helped Sevilla win the Europa League. He came through the youth ranks at Sevilla and made his senior debut in April 2012. Moreno, who made his Spain debut against Georgia in October 2013, was named in the provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup but failed to make the cut. Madrid-born Manquillo started out in Real Madrids youth system but was released in 2007 and signed for Atletico Madrid soon after. He took his first-team bow for Atletico in December 2011 but has found his opportunities limited. The deal for Moreno would take Liverpools summer spending past the £100million mark. The Reds have already completed deals worth around £87million for Rickie Lambert, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Divock Origi. Courtesy of Liverpool Echo.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 22:25:34 +0000
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