Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal for Barcelona right-back Martin Montoya according to Marca via The Telegraph, with the 24-year-old being lined up as a replacement for Glen Johnson after his Anfield departure this summer.
The Reds have been linked with a move to Montoya for some time, and speculation about his future has increased with the recent signing of Aleix Vidal from Sevilla – due to the winger being able to competently slot in at right-back – and the reward of a new contract to Dani Alves, when it looked like he might leave after seven years in Catalonia.
If Montoya does depart the La Liga side, he’s likely to become first-choice at Anfield if he signs for them.
Johnson’s contract expires at the end of June and he’s already been confirmed to be leaving, while Javier Manquillo hasn’t played as much as he’d have liked during the first half of a two-campaign loan spell on Merseyside.
The fee for Montoya, if he joins, is thought to be around £7 million, which is affordable given Rodgers’ reportedly small budget this summer.
And, seeing as the player is only 24, that could represent excellent value for Liverpool in the long run.
