Liverpool rival Tottenham Hotspur for £24m Marcelo deal Liverpool are so fed up with the continued impasse in talks over a deal for Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno that they are ready to scrap the deal altogether and make a £24m move for Real Madrid star Marcelo, but Tottenham Hotspur are also interested and ready to battle for the Brazilians signature. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has made the acquisition of a quality full-back his top priority this summer after swiftly concluding deals for Rickie Lambert and Emre Can, but attempts to repeat that success in recent weeks have been thwarted. Liverpool must produce big offer to sign star England star close to summer switch WOULD MARCELO MOVE? Rodgers has considered a whole host of left-backs during a frenzied start to the summer transfer window, ranging from Morenos raw potential through to a short-term move for England and Chelsea star Ashley Cole. Thanks to a fortnight of frustration though Liverpool are now ready to wait until the World Cup finishes and ask test Madrids resolve with a big-money bid for Marcelo, according to the Daily Star. Marcelo has been Reals first-choice full-back for much of the last seven seasons, but lost his place to Fabio Coentrao towards the back end of last term and was reduced to the role of impact substitute in the Champions League final, although he responded by scoring in extra-time on a famous night for Los Blancos in Lisbon. Madrid are mindful that Marcelo has just over 12 months left on his current deal at the Bernabeu expires next summer and are reportedly willing to cash in, but only if Liverpool or Spurs match a sky-high valuation of £24m. SPURS IN THE RACE Tottenham Hotspur fans may be extremely pessimistic that they can persuade an ever-present star for Brazil at this summers World Cup to move from Madrid to White Hart Lane, but try telling that to Mauricio Pochettino. The new Spurs boss has reportedly identified Marcelo as an attainable target because of his slightly surprising contract situation, and believes the lure of London and Premier League football could make the switch a reality. LIVERPOOLS NEED MORE PRESSING Pochettino is determined to be ambitious in the transfer market this summer and that means Spurs are now on a collision course with Liverpool over two signings, with Southampton captain Adam Lallana the other player linked with both Anfield and White Hart Lane in recent weeks. Liverpool are more desperate to land proven talent though because of the added burden of Champions League football, which is a gift and a curse when you consider how a thin the Reds squad looked at certain points last season. Rodgers was often forced to field Jon Flanagan at left-back and seemed wholly unconvinced with loan signing Aly Cissokho, which means despite looking unlikely Marcelo would be a perfect, if expensive fit to be Liverpools new star on the flank in an attacking side committed to attractive, entertaining football.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:18:35 +0000
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