Spanish publication Marca, cited here in the Daily Mail, claim that Liverpool have made an official offer for Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi of £16m.
The 25-year-old moved to Real Madrid for big money back in 2013, but in his two full seasons, he’s struggled to tie down an automatic starting spot – and has been predominantly used from the bench. In La Liga last term, Illarra started just ten matches, but was used as a substitute a further 20.
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Marca reckon that our former manager Rafa Benitez, now at the Bernabeu helm, will have the final say on whether the mooted bid will be accepted – but reckon he’ll sanction the deal.
Marca have direct connections with Real Madrid, and while they’ve been known to publish stories in the past to unsettle transfer targets for Los Blancos’ benefit, if they’re claiming a bid has been made for one of the Madrid stars, it’s likely to have an element of truth in it.
We need central midfield reinforcements since Steven Gerrard’s exit, and for £16m, Illarra would be a superb acquisition. He’s physical and disciplined in the middle, but more importantly, has the technical and passing skills to link defence and attack and thread intricate through-balls to onrushing attackers.
Hopefully Benitez will allow the transfer, and our busy summer in the window will start looking all the more exciting.
If he were to complete a transfer, he’d join James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez as 2015 summer Anfield arrivals.