Liverpool are being heavily linked with the Spanish pair of Isco and Ander Herrera. The Daily Star made claims today that the Reds are eyeing up both players as potential replacements for Steven Gerrard who is expected to continue playing until at least until 2014.
Malaga’s Isco was rumoured to be one of the players set to be sold by the Spanish side this summer as they underwent a financial crisis but he remains at the club and was instrumental in the side’s 3-0 victory over Zenit St Petersburg in their opening game in the Champions League last Tuesday.
Spurs reportedly put in a deadline-day bid of 12million euro (just under £10million) plus Giovanni dos Santos but Malaga rejected the bid and dos Santos went to Mallorca instead.
Isco’s current buyout clause stands at 21million euro (£16.8million) and rises by 1million euro a year to a maximum of 25million euro (£20million) over the next four years. The Star reports Spanish newspaper AS as claiming that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers sees Isco as the preferred long-term replacement for Gerrard and that a bid could come next summer.
Herrera is also being watched by Liverpool but the Athletic Bilbao midfielder is currently out of action for another five weeks after undergoing an operation for a recurring hernia injury.
