Liverpool are preparing at bid to take Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol to Anfield in the summer as they look for a replacement for Jamie Carragher who is set to retire at the end of the current campaign.
According to sports website Tutto Mercato Web, the 27-year-old is keen to leave Madrid in search of regular first team football as he eyes a place in the Spain squad for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Albiol ahs only made 11 starts in La Liga this year and seen young French defender Raphael Varane overtake him in the pecking order at the Bernabeu.
Following Varane’s injury against Espanyol on Saturday, Albiol may be given the opportunity to stake his place for more playing time in the final of the Copa del Rey.
But speaking to the club’s official website, he expressed his sympathy for the 19-year-old defender.
Albiol said: “It is unfortunate for that to have happened to a team-mate, whether it was Raphael or anyone else.
“It could be me or one of my team-mates who replaces him, so we must all train well and be ready for if the coach decides that we are playing.”
