Liverpool prepare 8m bid for Real Madrid midfielder

Liverpool are reportedly in talks with Real Madrid ahead of a bid to sign midfielder Esteban Granero.

The Anfield side are keen to beef up their central midfield options and have earmarked a move for the adaptable 24 year old this month. The Merseyside club are lining up a bid in the region of £8m for the former Spanish Under 21 international.

Jose Mourinho has relegated Granero into something of a bit part player and there is growing speculation that the former Getafe man may be warming to the idea of a move to the Premier League. Thus far this season he has managed just two starts thus far this season and may well be a player that the Real Madrid boss feels he can afford to offload.

Kenny Dalglish is said to be keen on bringing in more creative options and Granero's touch and intelligent distribution have caught his eye.

Liverpool sold Raul Meireles to Chelsea and loaned out pair Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani on season long deals so there is space to bring in additions and a move for the Real Madrid man would be a fairly cost effective option to turn to. Granero started his career at the Bernabeu but failed to break into the first team and was sold to nearby Getafe however in July 2009 former boss Manuel Pellegrini opted to trigger his buy back clause and in his first season notched up 35 appearances for the Madristas.

Over the past two seasons Granero has watched as Mourinho signed players like Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and new addition Jose Callejon move ahead of him in the pecking order.

Source: Caught Offside

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