Javier Manquillo Addition at Liverpool 'Strange' – Steve Nicol

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has criticised the club's transfer dealings after clinching the loan signing of Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid.

Manquillo has joined on a reported two-year deal from the La Liga champions and Champions League runners-up with a view to a permanent move, as cover for Jose Enrique – who missed the last six months of the previous season with a knee problem.

The addition comes amid Liverpool's need for a new striker following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, and Nicol has slammed the addition of Manquillo who the Scot expects to have a lmited impact this term.

"It is a strange one," Nicol told talkSPORT. "The guy hasn't played. He didn't play in the Atleti B team either, so this guy doesn't have a lot of minutes behind him.

"I'm really not sure where the connection comes from and I'm certainly not sure scouts have seen him play because the guy hasn't played. I'm a little sceptical. Hopefully, it turns out, but it's a little strange.

"As a player, being loaned out is a bit of a slight on you," he added. "I don't see players having loyalty to the teams they are with because they are owned by another side.

"What if this guy sits on the bench for Liverpool? How happy is he going to be? Not only is he on loan, but he is not playing.

"I don't understand why a team of Liverpool's size are doing that."

Liverpool made two loan signings last summer in the form of Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho, with both players enduring a torrid time at Anfield before returning to their parent clubs.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will hope the addition of Manquillo pays off ahead of Liverpool's assault on four fronts this season, which includes a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2009.