Liverpool misfit Iago Aspas confident of permanent move to Sevilla this summer

Iago Aspas believes he could have helped solve Liverpool's woes up front this season, but is now ready to cut his ties with the club completely this summer.

Aspas, 27, joined the Merseyside club in the summer of 2013 from Celta Vigo but endured a dismal first campaign in English football, starting just six games in all competitions for Brendan Rodgers' side.

A return to Spain on loan at Sevilla followed with the Andalusian club reportedly holding a mandatory option to make the deal permanent for a fee of €7m (£5m, $7.9m) at the end of the season, something Aspas believes is an "open secret".

And having not spoken to Rodgers since leaving Anfield last summer, the Spaniard is certain he will not be returning to these shores.

"I came here on a loan deal with an obligatory option to buy," Aspas told ESPN. "I am a Sevilla player for next season. I will sit down and talk to the club in the coming days, or when the season ends. But, well, it is an open secret that everyone knew. The transfer [fee] is to be paid this summer.

"I am very happy at Sevilla, they received me with open arms, and I hope to keep paying them back for many years.

"Since I left Liverpool I have not spoken with [Rodgers] again. But the time I was at Liverpool, he behaved very well towards me. I did not have the playing time I wanted. Which is why I made the move here to Sevilla.

"At the moment [returning to Liverpool] is difficult, as I say, I am going to stay here for some years at Sevilla. But I do have unfinished business as I felt I could bring much more things to the team, if I had been given more playing time."

Aspas's struggles for opportunities last season came as a result of the irresistible form of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, whose strike partnership almost guided the club to a first league triumph in 25 years.

But with the Uruguay international now starring in the most fearsome attack in world football at Barcelona and Sturridge hampered by injury, the Sevilla forward strongly believes he would have had his chances to try and fill the void in Merseyside this term.

"It was difficult [to get to know Sturridge] due to his language but he is a great player," Aspas said. "It is a pity that this year he has had a lot of injuries. I think that if I'd been at Liverpool this year I would have played a lot more games, with Sturridge's injury, and Suarez not being there.

"I might have got the playing time I did not get last year."