Out of favour Liverpool star Alberto Moreno is reportedly set to seal a summer move to La Liga champions Barcelona, signing a two-year contract.
As per a report from Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are on the verge of signing Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno on a two-year deal, once his contract with the Premier League giants runs out at the end of the season.
26-year-old Moreno has been with Liverpool since the summer of 2014, having joined from boyhood club Sevilla. He has gone on to make 141 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, 91 of which came in his first two seasons with the club.
Over the past couple of years, Moreno has found himself behind Andrew Robertson and James Milner in the pecking order under manager Jurgen Klopp. In the ongoing campaign, the Spaniard has featured only five times across all competitions, indicating that he is not a part of the manager’s plans moving forward.
Moreno is in the final few months of his current contract with Liverpool and with no negotiations held over a new deal, an exit at the end of the season seems a distinct possibility. And as per the report from Sport, Barcelona have acted quickly to capitalize on the situation and are set to sign the 26-year-old on a free transfer, tying him down to a two-year deal.
Barcelona have made the signing of a new left-back a top priority heading into the next season. The Catalans’ first-choice Jordi Alba is one of the best across Europe in his position, but they do lack a proper backup for the Spanish international in their ranks, which hasn’t allowed manager Ernesto Valverde to rotate and rest Alba.
Academy graduate Marc Cucurella has impressed on loan at Eibar and could be set to make the switch permanent, while fellow La Masia product Juan Miranda is likely to be loaned out next season as reported by MARCA, leaving Barcelona in search of an able backup for Alba heading into the 2019-20 season.
The reigning La Liga champions had been linked with Olymique Lyon full-back Ferland Mendy but Moreno seems to have emerged as a more attractive option considering that he will cost them nothing in transfer fees.
Moreno, throughout his spell at Liverpool, has been criticized for a lack of defensive awareness in his game, which could potentially be a problem for Barcelona. However, given that the Catalans spend most of the games they play on the front-foot, attacking the opposition, it could suit the 26-year-old’s game.
Things might not have worked out for Moreno at Liverpool, but he still has plenty left to offer at the top level. The Spanish international has the experience of playing at a big club, also has plenty of exposure in the La Liga as well and will be available for free, making him a shrewd addition for Barcelona, should they sign him up in the summer.
