• Premier League

Liverpool poised for double signing

ESPN staff
June 19, 2013
Luis Alberto is close to signing for Liverpool © Getty Images
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Liverpool are closing in on the signings of Luis Alberto and Christian Atsu from Sevilla and Porto respectively.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to wrap up the £6 million deal for attacking midfielder Alberto, 20, by the end of the week as he continues to reshape his squad.

The news comes a day after Sevilla sporting director Monchi said Liverpool's initial offer for Alberto was good but not good enough - but the Merseysiders are confident the deal will be done soon.

Meanwhile, Ghana international winger Atsu, 21 - who made his breakthrough at Porto under the management of Andre Villas-Boas - is poised to join for around £3 million. Atsu, who will be out of contract next summer, has told the club he does not intend to sign another deal with them.

Christian Atsu is also on the Anfield radar © Getty Images
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Speaking to Sevilla's in-house television channel on Tuesday, Monchi - whose full name is Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo - said he expected the Anfield club to return with a more attractive offer for Alberto.

"If there has been interest from Liverpool, we are not going to deny that," he said. "The numbers suggest that he [Alberto] is leaving.

"The player has received an important offer, but at the moment he is a Sevilla player. The first offer the club has is very good, but we are not satisfied yet."

Alberto, who can also operate as a deep-lying forward, spent last season on loan with Barcelona's B team.

Liverpool are also close to completing the signings of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland and striker Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo. Shakhtar Donetsk's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also on their radar.

Rodgers' spending power will be increased by the sale of striker Andy Carroll to West Ham United for £15 million, with that deal likely to go through imminently after the player passed a medical.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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