Sociedad challenging Liverpool for Illarramendi signature

Real Sociedad are hopeful of fending off competition from Liverpool to resign midfielder Asier Illarramendi from Real Madrid, reports Marca.

Illarramendi, 25, was a product of the Sociedad youth system before making a big money move to Madrid in 2013 and Marca claim David Moyes’ side are in the final steps of preparing a bid to match the €15m (£10.9m) currently on the table from Liverpool.

The Spain international has already been told he can leave the Santiago Bernabéu this summer, according to the London Evening Standard, but it is being reported that Illarramendi favours starting a new career in England over a return to his boyhood club.

Illarramendi has only managed 25 starts since making his £34m move to Madrid and has failed to reproduce the kind of performances that courted so much attention during his final two years at Sociedad.

For more stats on Asier Illarramendi, click here to visit his WhoScored player page