Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Reds looking at Real Madrid's Asier Illarramendi

According to a somewhat speculative report in Metro, Liverpool are looking at Illarramendi as a viable midfield upgrade. The Madrid player is reportedly available for around £15m - with Spanish newspaper AS pointing out on Thursday that Rafa Benitez needs to sell at least two players if he is to add anyone else to his squad (and abide by UEFA/La Liga squad regulations) before the transfer window closes.

Expendable at the Santiago Bernabeu, Liverpool are apparently tempted by past comparisons made between Illarramendi and Xabi Alonso - one of the greatest midfielders in the Reds' recent history.

Illarramendi is a cultured midfielder who has not really been afforded the game time at Real Madrid he so desperately needs in order to flourish, and an exit certainly makes sense on both his part and that of the club. Comparisons with Xabi Alonso are not ludicrously fair-fetched but Illarramendi would not necessarily seem the sort of player Rodgers is desperately searching for right now - and the player himself may prefer to stay in Spain to reignite his career if at all possible.

Liverpool have signed 17-year-old Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi, according to a report in Africa. Awoniyi was wanted after impressing at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

But reports suggest Liverpool have come on top in their bid to sign the player, who will undergo a medical at Anfield.

Awoniyi is set to go on loan with Belgium and Holland a possible move for him.

“It’s almost too late to apply for a work permit for him using the special talent clause because he has been with the U23 team and as such he will go on loan to a club either in Belgium or Holland in the first instance,” a source is quoted as saying on AfricanFootball.com.

Awoniyi turns 18 on Wednesday which allows him to sign a professional contract. This appears to be a smart piece of business for the future with the forward turning out for his country at U15, U17 and U20 level. Beating Manchester City to the punch will no doubt please Liverpool.

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Aston Villa have reportedly beaten Liverpool to the signing of Barcelona’s Adama Traore.

Liverpool were thought to be in pole position to sign the Spain youngster but have been beaten to the punch by Aston Villa.

The Spain U19 international is highly rated at the Camp Nou but AS are reporting that Villa have secured a permanent deal for the wide forward, who is expected to put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

Traore is a hugely talented forward but he is hardly the transformative signing that would have turned Liverpool from also-rans into genuine title contenders. However, he may have proved a valuable addition to the Liverpool squad – and his pace would have offered Brendan Rodgers with options from the bench.

Furthermore, what does it say of Liverpool’s standing in the game that they are now being beaten to transfer targets by Villa, a side who finished just one place above the relegation zone?

Liverpool target Lucas Digne looks set to complete a move to Roma according to reports.

L’Equipe reports that Roma will pay £1 million as a season-long loan fee before stumping up £17.5m next summer.

Despite that blow, the Telegraph adds that Brendan Rodgers is still willing to allow Jose Enrique join West Bromwich Albion on loan despite missing out on Digne.

Joe Gomez was signed over the summer with an eye on the future, but, with doubts persisting over the form of Alberto Moreno, Brendan Rodgers wants to bring in another left-sided player.

Digne’s versatility – he can operate on the left of midfield as well as left-back – was thought to appeal to Rodgers but he will now have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

However, the European market is sorely lacking in quality and available left backs. Furthermore, Chelsea are also after a left-back, so this could feasibly be a forlorn search.

Gomez looks highly competent though so maybe the Reds have already solved that problem area.

West Ham have apparently joined the race to sign out-of-favour Liverpool striker Fabio Borini.

They have competition from Fiorentina - see yesterday's entry - for the player’s signature, according to The Mirror.

Borini scored just one goal for Liverpool last season, a paltry return from a player who grabbed 10 goals for Sunderland in 2013/14.

The Hammers are also reportedly in talks to sign Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez, although Benfica has also been touted as a potential destination for the Mexican.

Do West Ham need attacking cover now they’re out of the Europa League?

Their season has shrunk dramatically following their limp exit in Romania, so it’s hard to see how an extra striker is going to improve things at the Boleyn Ground. Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho already reside at the club. A fourth forward would only complicate matters.

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Fabio Borini is on the verge of leaving Liverpool with Fiorentina close to bringing the Italian forward back to his homeland.

According to Florence based publication La Nazione the two clubs are apart in their valuations, with Liverpool demanding around £8million following La Viola's £5.5m offer.

The 24 year-old was Brendan Rodgers' first signing as Reds manager in the summer of 2012 but is now out of favour after the arrivals this summer of Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Divock Origi.

The Serie A side are expected to up their offer with manager Paulo Sousa expected to meet the player's representatives in Italy over the weekend.

Borini is clearly out of favour at Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers doing his level best to usher him toward the Anfield exit after leaving him at home for the club's pre-season tour.

As the club are so desperate to ship him out is it worth haggling over the fee for the sake of a couple of million, or just cutting their losses?

Alexandre Lacazette has been given the green light to join Liverpool, according to reports.

The Lyon striker has reportedly been told the club will not stand in his way if he wants to leave.

Lacazette is one of Europe’s most sought after strikers following an impressive 2014/15 season, with Liverpool and Arsenal among those linked with a move.

Euro Papers adds further details...

The only concern with Lacazette is his temperament. It appears Lyon have finally had enough and are hoping to sell him for a monster fee.

Liverpool have just signed Christian Benteke and already boast Daniel Sturridge. Yes, the latter has numerous injury woes, but why risk alienating him by signing a prickly striker?

It wouldn't be surprising if the reports linking Lacazette with a switch to Liverpool are wide of the mark.

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Liverpool are preparing a sensational £35 million swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, according to reports.

The implausible transfer has been touted by the Daily Express and the Metro.

It was claimed the Germany star is unhappy at the Bernabeu.

Sadly – for Liverpool fans, anyway – Kroos’ ‘sadness’ is a result of a misunderstanding by InsideSpanishFootball, who accidentally took a hypothetical article on PSG targets (which included Kroos) as fact.

That led to an article on Kroos wanting to leave Real Madrid, which in turn led to the papers on these shores declaring “Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool” were interested.

Finally, Liverpool was settled on as the destination. The joys of the transfer window.

This is nothing more than a brainchild from the Daily Express and the Metro. Who on earth would swap a starting role at Real Madrid for Liverpool?

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Adama Traore from Barcelona.

The 19-year-old winger will apparently join the Premier League club from Barcelona's B side.

Traore is set to undergo a medical, according to media reports.

Barca apparently have to sell 13 players ahead of the new season, but a deal has yet to be agreed between the two clubs.

One for the future perhaps, but Traore has turned out four times for Barca, scoring one goal while earning admiring glances from a number of scouts for his output with the B side. The 19-year-old scored three times and contributed 14 assists in 37 appearances last season. He is a player Manchester United and Stoke were linked with.

Real Madrid are ready to accept Liverpool's latest offer of £14.2million for Asier Illarramendi.

Metro are reporting that Liverpool had an initial £10.5million bid rejected for the Spanish midfielder earlier in the summer, but there are indications that Real Madrid would accept an increased offer.

New boss Rafa Benitez has not yet been convinced by Illarramendi, who remains highly rated around Europe after emerging as a key player at Real Sociedad a couple of seasons ago.

Illarramendi is a highly talented prospect and there appears to be little chance of him forcing his way into Real's star-studded first-choice midfield. As a technically gifted deep-lying playmaker a move to Liverpool would suit his style, but Brendan Rodgers is not thought to be in the market for midfielders.

Reported Liverpool target Alvaro Negredo has committed his future to Valencia despite speculation over a return to the Premier League.

The Reds had been linked with a move for the former Manchester City striker, but reports in Spain have suggested that the striker feels he still has a role in La Liga.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "From the first day after last season ended, my mind has been focused on Valencia.

"I want to work hard and continue developing. My plan is to stay.

"My plan is to stay and nobody has said I'm not in their plans. I'm here to keep working and nothing more."

The striker scored only five goals in 29 games last season and is thought to be surplus to requirements.