Agent Informs Barcelona Liverpool Target is Heading Closer to Exit - Report

Liverpool target Martin Montoya is edging closer to the Barcelona door after his agent informed the Catalan giants he has held talks with interested parties.

Brendan Rodgers' side are understood to leading the face to sign the defender, whose current contract with the Spanish champions expires at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old has also garnered the attention of clubs from Serie A, with Inter and Milan also reportedly sounding out Motoya's agent Josep Maria Orobitg. Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo report that the defender's representative has already told Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta of his efforts to secure a new club for his client.

It is suggested Orobitg is currently in Italy to hold discussions with interested parties, having already spoken with Liverpool over a possible move. Although Montoya will be able to leave the club on a free transfer this summer, Mundo suggest clubs interested are willing to pay a fee to ensure a move can take place when the January transfer window opens.

Montoya, who is equally adept playing at both right back and centre back, has previously maintained a desire to remain at the Nou Camp, but a lack of first team opportunities has forced his hand. Having started just six games this season - a string of which came during the absence of Dani Alves at the end of last month - the defender admits he may have no choice but to consider a move away.

"I have been playing for Barcelona for 14 years," Montoya said earlier this week. "I still have many months left [on my contract] and I hope much more than that. We will talk about it with the club, we are negotiating, but I keep to the side of things. I am young and what I want is to keep playing."

Liverpool may also renew their interest in another disgruntled Barcelona youngster in Cristian Tello. The winger, who was part of the Spain side that won the Under-21 European Championship in June with Montoya, turned down a move to Merseyside last summer but may reconsider having suggested he will seek a move if he is forced to continue watching from the bench.

"I will wait and see how things go from here until the end of the season," Tello told AS this week. "If I do not play as much as I would like, I will think about leaving.

"To take that step will be pretty difficult, but I believe each person must evaluate their own role. As the years pass you want your role to change and to have more minutes."