Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Spanish
international defender Raul Albiol, according to Valencia's
sporting director Fernando Gomez.
The centre-back is rated amongst the best in La Liga, but
financial problems at the Mestalla could see the club lose a number
of their top stars in the summer.
Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the 24-year-old, who can
play in central defence or as a holding midfielder, but Liverpool
boss Rafa Benitez has apparently now dispatched his scouting
network to follow Albiol.
Albiol is currently contracted to Valencia for another two years
and has a huge buy-out clause of nearly £50m - although reports in
Spain now suggest they could be willing to do a deal at £13m.
Valencia's sporting director Fernando Gomez has admitted the
club would have to consider any reasonable offers, and also
confirmed they were aware of scouts from Liverpool tracking
Albiol.
"Today it is necessary to study each offer that we receive and
after that we would decide," he told sky sports "The money
situation is complicated at the club, but formally nobody has
spoken with us about Abiol.
"But we are aware that the Reds have been scouting around here
in recent months."
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