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Liverpool step up Moreno interest

Alberto Moreno has been linked with a move to Real Madrid © Getty Images

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Liverpool have formalised their interest in Sevilla's Alberto Moreno with a £16 million offer for the left-back, according to reports in Spain.

Sources revealed the club's liking for Moreno to ESPN earlier this month as manager Brendan Rodgers' attempts to strengthen his defence gathered pace.

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Left-back has become a priority position in Liverpool's transfer planning after they suffered there last season, with first choice Jose Enrique injured from November onwards and Jon Flanagan, primarily a right-back, filling in.

Moreno, 21, has had a good season with his club, helping them to win the Europa League and earning himself a place in Spain's preliminary World Cup squad.

He was recently linked with a move to Real Madrid but Liverpool are trying to strike early and are said to have included the possibility of midfielder Suso going to Sevilla as part of their offer.

The World Cup is a potential hold up for several transfers that have already been mooted, not least that of Southampton's Adam Lallana, who Liverpool have bid for.

But Rodgers is hopeful he will not have to resort to temporary deals this time around. "I would hope we don't have to go for loans this summer," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's always about the availability of players. If you are not satisfied with the squad and you feel you can improve it then you have to look at every option. In these first couple of years I've been we have had to do that as we've had a thin squad.

"The players we wanted we couldn't get but we're hopeful that this summer will be different. We turn the page and it's another chapter in terms of where we're going."

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