Liverpool and Tottenham Boosted in Race to Sign Barcelona Forward

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major boost in signing Barcelona forward Cristian Tello after the Spaniard hinted at a possible exit from Camp Nou next year.

The Express report claims that Brendan Rodgers' side and the north London club were believed to be interested in signing the forward in the summer transfer window. However, no deal took shape as Tello continued with the Spanish champions.

Tello has dropped down the pecking order under Barcelona's new coach Gerardo Martino, making two starts for in the league this season. The Catalan club has the services of summer signing Neymar, Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez on wider positions and the trio have been preferred ahead of the Spaniard.

"Right now I am very happy, but next year we'll see. Every year I've felt more integrated into the team, more mature, but then every year you want to play as much and when the season ends we'll see what suits me best," Tello said, as quoted in the Express.

"[I want to be] playing as much as possible but I know who I have in front of me. But hey I'm ready to play it all if needed. I know that I can perform at the top, but that's the coach's decision. He has to choose between all of his options."

The forward came up through Barcelona's academy and is one of the jewels to graduate from the La Liga giants' famous youth system. However, Tello has failed to cement a place, since making his way into the first team three years ago.

Tello signed a new deal earlier in August and his contract with Barcelona runs down in 2018. The Spaniard had earlier admitted that the Merseyside club were keen on bringing him to Anfield and he snubbed a chance to join Liverpool in the summer.

"I always wanted to stay here. The coach has confidence in me, I'm happy and ready to play. I knew that Liverpool were interested in me, but I never thought about leaving," the forward explained.

Liverpool and Tottenham could make an approach for the Spaniard's services and assurances of regular playtime would be enough to lure Tello in January or next summer.