Liverpool are reportedly "closing in" on the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi.
According to Metro, the unwanted Real player is still a target for Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, as he looks to bolster his central midfield following the departure of Steven Gerrard.
The recent arrival at the Bernabeu of Inter Milan's Mateo Kovacic has likely pushed Illarramendi further back in the pecking order under new boss Rafael Benitez, as the Real squad is now packed with quality midfielders, per football writer Cristian Nyari:
Kovacic, Isco, Modric, Kroos, James, that's an incredible and technical midfield for Real.