Rumour Mill: Liverpool in “transfer fight” for Barcelona defender Marc Bartra

Liverpool are reported to be in a three club transfer battle to sign Barcelona centre back Marc Bartra this summer.

After watching his side concede an alarming amount of goals again last season, Brendan Rodgers appears keen to bolster his defensive options, with recent reports linking PSG left back Lucas Digne, and now Bartra with potential Anfield moves.

According to the Daily Mail, “Tottenham and Liverpool are in a three-way battle with Porto” for the Spain international who “could be available for as little as £9million this summer.”

The 24-year-old is reported to have three years left on his Nou Camp contract but it is said that “his contract stipulates that if he has not reached a certain number of games this season his buy-out clause would fall from £17.9million to just £8.6million.”

It’s certainly a bargain fee for the Spanish international who has been capped five times, and the fact he plays as a right sided centre back where the Reds need to strengthen makes the Spaniard an attractive proposition.

“Both Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Pochettino are keen but both could be beaten to the punch by Porto’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui who has the advantage of offering Bartra Champions League football next season”, the report claims.

It’s said that the player “is wanted” by Nou Camp boss Luis Enrique but “he feels under-used last season and with Thomas Vermealen returning from injury, fears he could now be Barca’s fifth choice centre back.”

With that in mind and the small matter of Euro 2016 at the end of next season, Bartra could be tempted by a move to Anfield with the chance of more regular action having only featured 14 times in La Liga last season.

The Reds face a battle for the signature of the Nou Camp product, but will hope to convince Bartra to join the club, adding to the arrivals of James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan.

SEE ALSO:  Jack Lusby on why Liverpool should target Bartra this summer