New rival for Madrid ace
Real Sociedad are closing in on a deal to sign Real Madrid outcast Asier Illarramendi.
The Spanish midfielder is out of favour at the Bernabeu and the La Liga side are willing to sell for around £16m.
Liverpool are said to be the frontrunners in the race to sign the 25-year-old, who joined Madrid from Sociedad in 2013.
But according to Spanish publication Marca, former Manchester United boss David Moyes to desperate to resign the fan favourite and bring him back to San Sebastian.
The report states the Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay is hoping his relationship with his Madrid counterpart Florentino Pérez will aid their chances of beating Liverpool to Illarramendi.
However Illarramendi is keen to move abroad to the Premier League rather than return to his boyhood club.
If Liverpool pull off the deal, he would be their eighth summer signing following the arrivals of Christian Benteke, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner.
Source: Daily Express
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