Liverpool are in the hunt for Real Sociedad defender Diego Llorente, according to Noticias de Gipuzkoa.
The Spanish outlet report that the Reds are keen on signing the 25-year-old centre-back this summer alongside bitter Merseyside rivals Everton, with Liverpool having already made an enquiry for his services.
The report adds that Liverpool are preparing an offer of £25million (€30million) to snap Llorente up from the La Liga side, with the Reds leading the chase on the Toffees in their pursuit of the defender.
His release clause stands at £42.8 million (5o million euros), but Sociedad are able to negotiate lower than that price range.
OPINION
It remains to be seen why Liverpool are so keen on signing this centre-back. There is no denying the talent that he has, but why on earth would they need him when they have Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren to call upon? This suggests that one of their fringe defenders could be on the move this summer, as there is no other reason why they would be pursuing a fifth centre half to add to their ranks. £25 million is a lot money to recruit for a position that they have suitable cover in – if anything, they should just abandon this one and leave Everton to sign him. They are probably more in need of one seeing as Kurt Zouma will be returning to Chelsea this summer, so they should do the wise thing and walk away. If he did sign, where would he fit in? It would be pointless and he may be low down the pecking order – steer clear, Liverpool.
