Spanish publication SPORT has claimed that Barcelona are very close to signing up Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno on a two year contract.
Moreno arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2014 from Sevilla, then considered one of the top emerging young talents in La Liga. However, over the last five years, he has fallen out of favour with him playing just five games this season, which is inclusive of just two Premier League appearances. This is against the 32 appearances he made in the Premier League in 2015/16 and 12 in the following year’s campaign.
Moreno, 26, was brought to Anfield by then manager Brendan Rodgers for a fee of 12 million pound when he was in peak form but failed to deliver consistently, thus gradually falling down the pecking-order.
Although he started the previous season on a positive note, injuries saw him in and out of the side and also outstanding performances from Andy Robertson costed him his place.
In December, Moreno lashed out at manager Jurgen Klopp after he was replaced by Andy Robertson following an injury he sustained.
He said (h/t Metro):
‘I didn’t feel [the decision to stick with Robertson] well, I was injured giving my best for our team,’ Moreno said to Ondacero.
‘I disliked Klopp’s decision because I was training but when I returned he only wanted Robertson.
‘My relationship with Klopp hasn’t changed but since this injury, I didn’t have a meeting with him but our relationship is normal.
‘I disliked the way that Klopp has treated me but I understand his situation that he can’t change [Robertson] because the team is winning.’
Sport further mentioned, Moreno is being brought to Camp Nou as an alternative for left-back Jordi Alba, aside from placing him alongside Benfica striker Luka Jovic (currently on loan at Frankfurt) and Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, all three being top transfer targets for Barca.
Earlier, the Spaniard was heavily linked with a move to the Italian side Lazio when he was seen in Rome last week with Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva. But it seems the Catalans have stolen a march over them and are zooming in to get Moreno on-board on a free transfer.
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