Liverpool close in on Sebastian Coates

Liverpool have moved a step closer to sealing a deal for Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates after the player's representatives flew in to England to discuss terms.

Liverpool are chasing a new defender prior to the start of the campaign, and Coates is seemingly their number one option.

"We are in Lisbon, en route to Manchester. We are going to arrive 10 hours late, about six in the afternoon in Uruguay [22:00 BST]. We should have been there a while ago, but the negotiations will be done tonight," a club representative of Nacional admitted.

"I get the feeling that the normal paths of communication have not been maintained. We are going to negotiate and I believe that we are going to take a bit more money."