Former Liverpool favourite Xabi Alonso has encouraged the Reds to make a move for Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi, according to reports in Spain.
Illarramendi has struggled for regular football at Madrid since his £25m move from Real Sociedad in 2013, and now looks to be heading towards the exit door, with several sides keen on his signature.
The 24-year-old has featured in just three starting line-ups for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season, adding further fuel to the fire over a potential move away from the Spanish side in the sumer.
Two of the sides interested in Illarramendi are Arsenal, and now Liverpool who have joined the race having been alerted to him by a former Spanish favourite at Anfield.
El Confidencial claim that Xabi Alonso has urged Brendan Rodgers to attempt to sign the Spanish international, with Alonso, who is now at Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, a former Madrid team-mate of Illarramendi’s.
by Ben Reardon