Liverpool have joined the race to sign Almeria
star Alvaro Negredo, who admits he would love the chance to move to
Anfield.
Skysports.com can reveal that Negredo is on Rafa
Benitez's list of targets for the summer.
Negredo has been one of the real stars of La Liga this term with
19 goals for unfashionable Almeria.
In his two seasons with Almeria he has now bagged 32 goals and
his exploits have not gone unnoticed.
Fulham made an unsuccessful effort to sign him in January, while
Aston Villa are also keeping a watching brief.
Liverpool are now ready to make a move for the player, although
his situation is somewhat complicated in that Real Madrid have
first option on him until the end of June.
He was with Real Madrid - albeit mainly their second team -
before he joined Almeria, but they inserted a buy-back clause of
£4.4million which they are now likely to activate.
This will mean they can sell him on, with reports suggesting
they would want £9.8million and it seems Liverpool would be willing
to pay this sum.
Negredo, at just 24, represents real potential and Benitez is
keen on taking him to England.
The player himself has revealed that Liverpool
have made contact.
"To play next to Fernando Torres at Anfield is a dream and any
player would accept that," he told skysports.com.
"But I prefer to talk about reality and I have not spoken with
Rafa Benitez, but I do know that some contact exists between the
clubs."
Negredo concedes that Real Madrid will ultimately decide where
his future lies.
"My future depends on Real Madrid, but I believe that this
summer I will be out of Almeria," he continued.
"I am grateful to Almeria because they have given me my chance
to play in the Primera Liga.
"But it is logical that I am interested in playing in the
Premier League and especially Liverpool.
"I believe that playing in England would be a great chance for
me as this league is a sensational place for forwards."