Reports in Spain suggest that Liverpool will finally seal a summer transfer for Real Madrid midfielder, Asier Illarramendi, beating off interest from Arsenal in the process.
The Spanish-international is expected to depart the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, having failed to hold down a place in the los blancos starting eleven.
He has appeared 35 times overall this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but has fallen out of favour in recent months, since the arrival of Toni Kroos, and James Rodriguez last summer.
His next destination appears to be England, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a keen admirer of Illarramendi, but according to Marca, the Gunners have lost the transfer battle to Liverpool, who have submitted an offer for the midfielder, who is now seemingly surplus to requirements in the Spanish capital.
The north Londoners’ had monitored Illarramendi for several weeks, in anticipation of a bid, but it appears that Liverpool will be willing to pay £23m for he player, who is keen on an English move.
by Ben Reardon