Liverpool On The VERGE Of Signing Asier Illaramendi, Real Madrid Ready To Sell

Liverpool are on a roll this transfer summer. Brendan Rodgers seems intent on putting right the wrongs of last season , where his own name was dragged through the mud for signing several big money players who turned out to be abject failures. With his own reputation on the line, and the club’s competitiveness called into question, Rodgers and Liverpool have come out all guns blazing this summer and have wasted no time in strengthening the squad with several promising arrivals like Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke , Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner among others.

And according to reports doing the rounds in The Mirror , 25-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi is all set to become the next name on that list, with the Reds reportedly readying a £13.8 million bid for the Spaniard as they look to bolster their midfield options.

With their captain, legend and perhaps the greatest ever player, Steven Gerrard , departing after a 26 year love affair with the club , Liverpool are in serious need of reinforcements in the middle of the park.

Though James Milner has already been signed as a free agent, the England International has hardly played in the defensive midfielder role in his career, and with Lucas Leiva’s powers in decline, Rodgers is on the lookout for another midfield destroyer.

Having signed from Real Sociedad in a €35 million deal in 2013 , Illarramendi has failed to make a significant impact at the Santiago Bernabeu . He has been mostly on the bench in this duration, and has failed to make the most of whatever opportunities he has had.

With new Real Manager Rafael Benitez planning to make significant changes to the Los Blancos’ midfield, the arrival of Casemiro pushes Illarramendi further down the pecking order , and the 25-year-old will surely not be thrilled at that prospect.

Having joined Real Madrid as the next big hope of Spanish football , it has been a couple of seasons to forget for the 25-year-old , whose career seems to have stalled since moving to the Bernabeu. He made 30 appearances for Los Blancos last term in the league, albeit a majority of them being from the bench.

A move to Anfield appears to suit all parties involved. Liverpool will be getting a competent player in a problem position for a relatively cheap price. Illarramendi, for his part, will be getting a much needed fresh start. On the other hand, Los Blancos will be able to free up considerable funds for upgrading other positions on the pitch.