Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Spain
international Raul Albiol, skysports.com
understands.
The Valencia defender is rated amongst the best in La Liga, but
money problems at The Mestalla could see them lose a number of
their top stars.
And Albiol may be one of the first to depart with a host of
clubs checking on his progress.
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 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 £50million - although
reports in Spain now suggest they could be willing to do a deal at
£13million.
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 skysports.com.
"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."
