Liverpool line up summer move for £25m Silva
Rafael Benitez is considering a summer move for Valencia's David Silva and may be ready to spend close to £25m to bring him to Anfield as a playmaker capable of leading Liverpool's onward development.
Liverpool's chief scout Eduardo Macia, who took a teenage Silva to Valencia, has been in Spain to view the attacking playmaker for whom Manchester City placed a bid in January. The most significant source of encouragement to Liverpool is the fact that Valencia's parlous financial position may force a fire sale both of Silva and David Villa, though the latter seems a more likely candidate for Real Madrid.
Valencia have a recent history of making unrealistic demands where Silva and Villa are concerned – such as the £130m City were quoted in a joint bid for both players. But Valencia, in debt to the tune of around £500m at a time when they are attempting to build the Nou Mestalla, may be more constrained come the summer and an offer greater than the £20.2m Liverpool paid for Fernando Torres may result.
Real Madrid may compete for the player's services – and may indeed bid for Xabi Alonso. But Benitez's Spanish connections and the presence of Alonso, Pepe Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa at Anfield would help swing such a deal for a player who played behind Torres and Villa in a left flank role during last summer's European Championships.
An ankle injury has limited his starts for Valencia this season but he returned to action in January.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies