Reds Close On Tello & Sahin

With the summer transfer window in full swing, Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news throughout the summer. Today, Liverpool are linked with Cristian Tello and Nuri Sahin.

Liverpool are closing in on a double swoop for Barcelona’s Cristian Tello and Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin, according to Guillem Balague.

The Spanish journalist gave an update on the La Liga duo’s situation in his column on Sky Sports News, and it appears Liverpool are front-runners for the exciting pair.

Attacking midfielder Tello broke into the Barcelona first team towards the end of last season after moving to the Nou Camp from Espanyol in 2010.

However, the 21-year-old is concerned he may not progress quickly enough at the Spanish giants and according to Balague, his agent will speak with the club in the next 48 hours to seek assurances over his role in the first team squad next season.

Recent reports had suggested that Arsenal were also vying for the 21-year-old but it appears Liverpool are now the favourites to land him if he does decide to leave this summer:

“Tello at the moment is an on-going situation. His agent wants to meet Barcelona today or tomorrow and after seeing what Barcelona want to offer – which is basically a ‘B team’ licence but with ‘A team’ wages.

“After that the agent will want to hear if Barcelona are going to play Tello a lot. It looks like he will be in the A Team sometimes, then in the B Team so the agent will talk to Barcelona about the possibility of moving on – either on loan or as a transfer.

“Atletico Madrid want him but the wage paid for him would be through an investment fund; the other team that is close to convincing him to move is Liverpool – not Arsenal, as has been published.

“Liverpool are optimistic that the player can go either on loan or as a transfer but it’s an on-going situation that has to be sorted – that’s what Barcelona want in the next couple of days.”

Balague wrote on Sky Sports News

It seems that Brendan Rodgers is also looking to add another central midfielder to his ranks, with Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin also close to a move to Anfield.

Arsenal were also thought to be close to landing the Turkish international two weeks ago while a swap deal involving Tottenham’s Luka Modric has also been mooted.

However, according to Balague it’s Liverpool who are in the box seat to land the 24-year-old after former Anfield man Xabi Alonso convinced the midfielder of a move to Merseyside. All that remains is for the two clubs to agree on the loan arrangement:

“Can you imagine a midfield with Joe Allen, Sahin and Lucas Leiva? It would look really good. But of course they have to convince the player – that’s the situation as it stands now.

“Liverpool will want Sahin to come on loan; Real Madrid are happy to let him go – they tried to move him on loan last January. This summer they wanted him to be part of a transfer for Luka Modric but Sahin said no.

“But an interesting twist has developed in this story because it seems as though Xabi Alonso has convinced Sahin to move to Liverpool and now it will be a matter of negotiating that loan deal

“Again – it’s an on-going situation. Nothing has been sorted yet but Alonso’s work has been very helpful for Liverpool!”

Balague wrote on Sky Sports News

So it seems Liverpool could be set to beat Arsenal to the signing of two players in the coming days, as Rodgers continues to improve his squad ahead of the new season.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news | Spurs transfer news

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