Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is a target for
Real Madrid after the Spanish champions confirmed they are
interested in bringing him to the Bernabeu in the January transfer
window.
The 23-year-old Denmark international has struggled to break
into Liverpool's starting line-up after a long rehabilitation from
a broken foot, with manager Rafael Benitez having opted to start
the season with the defensive partnership of Jamie Carragher and
Martin Skrtel.
Benitez is believed to be keen to keep Agger at Anfield - who
has two years remaining on his contract - but Real Madrid
vice-president Jose Angel Sanchez admitted they are poised to make
an offer.
"He [Agger] is a player we have been looking at for a long time
and it is likely we will bid for him in January. He is a
world-class player and without doubt he would fit into our plans,"
Sanchez is quoted in The Times.
"We already had plans about buying Agger this summer, along with
some other players, but the Robinho situation took so much
attention and demanded so many resources from the club that we had
to drop the plans about putting a bid in for Agger and other
players that we had in mind.
"What we need is a defender and a striker, and, at the moment,
Agger is on top of our list." In an interview with Danish
television Agger denied that he had clashed with Benitez over his
performance in a nervous goalless draw in the first leg of the
Champions League qualifying clash at Standard Liege. Liverpool won
the second leg 1-0.
"Of course there are things that Benitez was not satisfied with
after Liege, but it is a big lie to say we had an argument," Agger
said. "I certainly hope it is only football reasons why I am not
playing. I'm happy at Liverpool I have no problem in this club. The
manager has just said that the team is playing very well and that
is why I am not playing. "I want to stay here and fight for my
place in the squad. I'm not satisfied with the fact that I'm not
playing but I have to cope and accept it."