Liverpool target Marco Sportiello: Atalanta goalkeeper rebuffs interest from Anfield club

Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello is delighted by interest from Premier League team Liverpool but admits his immediate future remain at the Serie A club.

The 22-year-old has only conceded 37 goals in 26 domestic games this season for an Atalanta side hovering four points above the drop zone heading into the final 12 games of the campaign.

Sportiello's performances have seen him linked with a move to both AC Milan and Inter Milan but with Liverpool having been heavily linked with the Italian shot-stopper, the player has responded to the reports and says the Anfield side are a "great" club.

"Liverpool are definitely a great club," Sportiello told Italian newspaper L'Eco di Bergamo. "We are talking about one of the top clubs in the world. However, I am happy to be here. This is my first year as a starter and I recently signed a new contract with Atalanta. My life has changed in a few months."

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to restart his search for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window after failing to sign competition for Simon Mignolet, who has endured an uncertain campaign.

Mignolet was dropped from the Liverpool team in December 2014 before being reinstated due to injury to number two Brad Jones. However, the Australian is now out of favour, with Danny Ward seemingly installed as the deputy to the Belgian.

Such is the 32-year-old's status at Anfield, Jones will play in the Steven Gerrard tribute match on 29 March having not been included in a Liverpool squad since Boxing Day.

Rodgers suggested before the January transfer window he would attempt to sign a new 'keeper but after efforts were halted, the Northern Irishman has been forced to delay any future plans until the summer.