Barcelona Reveal £16.5m Release Clause For Liverpool Target Montoya

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers may renew his interest in signing Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya after the Catalan club revealed a £16.5m release clause in his new contract.

The 22-year-old defender has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months as his contract at Barcelona was due to expire at the end of the season.

And even though the Spanish international has opted to sign a new deal with his childhood team, Liverpool's hopes of luring him from the Nou Camp are not totally over after the Catalans revealed through an official statement a new £16.5m release clause in his contract

The price looks affordable for a player that is considered one of the most prolific right-backs around Europe. He was part of the Spain Under-21 team that conquered the European Championship last summer and Spanish manager Vicente Del Bosque had capped him for two friendly games with the senior side.

The right-back made the move from Barcelona's youth academy into the senior side in 2011 and this season he has proved a consistent back-up for Brazilian international Daniel Alves, making 18 appearances under Gerardo Martino.

However, he has been an unused substitute in the last five La Liga games and with Barcelona planning to sign a a top right-back in summer to replace Alves, Montoya's chances of securing a place in the line-up may be slim.

Brendan Rodgers, who is a huge fan of the Spanish academy, has been tracking Montoya closely as he can also feature on the left flank.

The Liverpool boss is looking for a versatile defender after Jose Enrique's long-term injury left the back-line short of cover this season. With Valencia Loanee Aly Cissokho failing to prove a consistent option, Rodgers has lately opted to use Jon Flanagan on the left flank leaving Glen Johson as the only alternative on the right side.

Apart from Liverpool, reports in Spain claim that Inter Milan and Napoli are also interested in Montoya.