EXCLUSIVE: Aspas' Agent Responds To Liverpool January Exit Rumours

Valencia and Betis are reportedly interesting in signing Iago Aspas on loan until the end of the season but his agent has ruled out an exit from Liverpool this January as the striker wants to stay at Anfield.

Liverpool paid £7m to Celta Vigo to acquire Aspas' services last summer but the Spaniard has struggled to make the impact expected and some European clubs are interesting in taking advantage of the situation.

However, Aspas's agent Jose Rodriguez Baster has revealed to International Business Times UK that the striker does not want to move in January, nor are Liverpool willing to let him go.

"Aspas wants to stay at Liverpool and Liverpool want to keep him. I have been in Liverpool recently and they have assured me that this is their intention.

"It is true that Aspas is not playing as much as we want but this is his first year at Liverpool. I would lie to you if I tell you that Aspas is happy about not playing but he wants to stay," Rodriguez Baster told IBTimes UK.

Reports in Spain claim that Betis and Valencia are keen on signing Aspas on loan and some suggest they have already contacted the player to discover what his plans are. When asked about that, Rodriguez Baster said:

"If Valencia or any other club are interesting in his signing they have to contact Liverpool. Always there are teams monitoring players but formal offers are a different thing. To close a deal it is needed that all the parties agree terms and here I am not thinking of a transfer because the player's intention is not to leave Liverpool."

With Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in sublime form this season, Aspas has started just five Premier League games and his only goal came in the FA Cup third round against Oldham.

His agent claims that he wants to keep fighting for a place in the starting line-up, but if Liverpool sign a striker this January the situation may change.

"If Liverpool (were to) sign a striker or a midfielder during this transfer window and they told us a different thing we will consider other alternatives but today the intention is that Aspas stays at Liverpool.

"Liverpool paid €9m for Aspas last summer and they believe that this is a long term bet," he added.

Baster, who also represents Luis Alberto, told IBTimes UK that the Liverpool midfielder is also happy to stay at Anfield despite his lack of opportunities under Brendan Rodgers.