Liverpool tracking midfield duo

According to reports emanting from a section of the British and Spanish press, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is rapidly moving towards signing the midfield duo Albert Riera and Marek Hamsik.

Riera is a Spanish international right sided midfielder who missed out on a call-up to the Spanish national call for the Euro 2008 finals after his current club Espanyol Barcelona endured a miserable second half of the season.

Marek Hamsik on the other hand is just 20 years of age and is rated as one of the best young central midfielders in Europe. He has been the force behind Napoli's Italian Serie A resurgence this season.

Reports from Spain suggest that Rafa has already launced a ₤6 million bid for Albert Riera who after capping a wonderful season with the Catalan side is set to leave anyway.

The situation pertaining Hamsik is more complicated though. The 20-year old has persistently sqashed transfer speculation that he is on his way out of Napoli. Nevertheless Liverpool are reportdly ready to throw out as much as ₤8 million for the central midfielder.

Rafael Benitez wants to add depth to his squad in the summer so that they can compete in the Premiershiop next season.