Liverpool close to signing SPANISH MIDFIELDER?

Liverpool are reportedly inching closer to a summer deal for Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Asier Illarramendi.

The Reds are understood to have made £14.2m bid for the former Sociedad star.

Illarramendi has struggled for match time at the Bernabeu last term, as he made just seven starts in La Liga for the club.

According to The Express, the Reds are expected to complete a deal for the midfielder enforcer by the end of the week, as Real look to recoup funds to bring in new recruits this summer.

The 25-year-old joined the former European champions from Real Sociedad in 2013.