According to reports from the Liverpool Echo this morning, Asier Illarramendi’s much-speculated move to Liverpool has been dubbed ‘inevitable’ by the Spanish press.
Real Madrid signed the defensive midfielder for a whopping €32.2million in summer 2013 – the highest fee they’ve ever paid for a Spaniard – after claiming La Liga’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award and Best Midfielder award at former club Real Sociedad.
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He was billed as the ‘new Xabi Alonso’, sharing the former Liverpool star’s long-range passing game, but has failed to claim a place in Real’s starting Xi over the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Arsenal and Liverpool are both long-term admirers of the 25 year-old, who is believed to have already turned down the opportunity of an Anfield switch this summer.
But according to the Liverpool Echo, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo believe Illarremendi’s Merseyside move is back on, even dubbing it ‘inevitable’.
It follows reports earlier this month claiming Los Blancos are keen to cash in on the former Spain U21; which have been validated by their successful bid for Inter Milan playmaking prodigy Mateo Kovacic.
The Sky Sports Transfer Centre (see 08:04am) believe Illarramendi is valued at around £16million – and that Brendan Rodgers views him as the ideal replacement for Lucas Leiva.