Liverpool's Move For Promising Barcelona Forward Hits Hurdle – Report

Liverpool will struggle to convince Barcelona to part with young forward Cristian Tello after the club reportedly told him he needs to stay at Camp Nou to make up for a growing injury list.

The Reds had been hoping to take Tello on loan until the end of the season as Brendan Rodgers mounts a challenge for a top four finish. The 20 year old has struggled for game time at Barcelona and is believed to be looking for a way out in order to boost his faint hopes in of winning a space in Spain's World Cup squad.

But the Mirror are reporting that while Liverpool presented a tempting option for him Barcelona are now insisting he stay until the end of the season at least as they look to keep hold of their very slim lead at the top of La Liga.

Tello had continually insisted that he was happy to fight for his place at Barcelona but towards the end of last year his confidence in Gerardo Martino was dwindling with the Spaniard saying: "Right now I am very happy, but next year we'll see.

"[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."

Rodgers admitted as the Christmas period rolled around that he didn't believe his squad had enough depth to cope with a growing injury list as Daniel Sturridge took to the sidelines with an ankle problem.

But the side may have to wait until the summer to land Tello, who will likely only become more frustrated should he continue to be left out of Martino's first XI and may push harder to leave, particularly if the Reds can seal Champions League qualification.