According to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Premier League club Liverpool are keen to add Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez to their squad this summer.
The 20-year-old midfielder is highly-rated in Spain and cost los Leones €6 million (£5.3m) when they signed him as a 17-year-old from Osasuna in 2006.
The 6ft 3in star has since made 95 first team appearances for the Rojiblancos in three seasons at San Mames, scoring nine goals.
However, it is claimed that Liverpool will face competition for the seven-time capped Spain Under-21 international. Serie A club Fiorentina are also rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.
10 things you need to know about the Liverpool target:
1) Javier 'Javi' Martínez Aguinaga was born in September 1988 in Pamplona – the town in Navarre famed for its loco bull run.
2) He joined Osasuna’s juniors after a trial as a 10-year-old, later taking his professional bow for Osasuna B back in 2005, netting twice in 32 games.
3) His performances with Osasuna B convinced Athletic Bilbao to shell out 6m euros for the powerful central midfielder in the summer of 2006.
4) The highlight of his first season in Bilbao was a superb brace against Deportivo La Coruña in December in a 2-0 away win.
5) The 6’ 3” midfielder soon became a regular in the Athletic team and totted up an impressive 35 games for the club in the 2006-07 season.
6) Martínez impressed in his second season at the San Mamés, too, and has been a big influence in his team’s impressive Spanish Cup run. They face La Liga’s runaway leaders Barcelona in the final next month.
7) He has played for both the Spanish Under-19 and U-21 teams and is widely thought to be close to a call up for the full national team.
8) Liverpool were reported to be close to signing Martínez two years ago, and a Premier League move could tempt him as he admitted he enjoyed the “wonderful atmosphere” in the English league watching on TV. Fiorentina have also kept tabs on his development.
9) He has been compared to Patrick Vieira, and Martinez looks to have a touch of the Steven Gerrard too in his driving run to set up a goal.
10) When Liverpool were linked with Martinez in 2007, it was reported he had a £17.1million release clause in his contract – with the way sterling has weakened against the euro, the Reds’ owners will be hoping that price tag has come down.
The 20-year-old midfielder is highly-rated in Spain and cost los Leones €6 million (£5.3m) when they signed him as a 17-year-old from Osasuna in 2006.
The 6ft 3in star has since made 95 first team appearances for the Rojiblancos in three seasons at San Mames, scoring nine goals.
However, it is claimed that Liverpool will face competition for the seven-time capped Spain Under-21 international. Serie A club Fiorentina are also rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.
10 things you need to know about the Liverpool target:
1) Javier 'Javi' Martínez Aguinaga was born in September 1988 in Pamplona – the town in Navarre famed for its loco bull run.
2) He joined Osasuna’s juniors after a trial as a 10-year-old, later taking his professional bow for Osasuna B back in 2005, netting twice in 32 games.
3) His performances with Osasuna B convinced Athletic Bilbao to shell out 6m euros for the powerful central midfielder in the summer of 2006.
4) The highlight of his first season in Bilbao was a superb brace against Deportivo La Coruña in December in a 2-0 away win.
5) The 6’ 3” midfielder soon became a regular in the Athletic team and totted up an impressive 35 games for the club in the 2006-07 season.
6) Martínez impressed in his second season at the San Mamés, too, and has been a big influence in his team’s impressive Spanish Cup run. They face La Liga’s runaway leaders Barcelona in the final next month.
7) He has played for both the Spanish Under-19 and U-21 teams and is widely thought to be close to a call up for the full national team.
8) Liverpool were reported to be close to signing Martínez two years ago, and a Premier League move could tempt him as he admitted he enjoyed the “wonderful atmosphere” in the English league watching on TV. Fiorentina have also kept tabs on his development.
9) He has been compared to Patrick Vieira, and Martinez looks to have a touch of the Steven Gerrard too in his driving run to set up a goal.
10) When Liverpool were linked with Martinez in 2007, it was reported he had a £17.1million release clause in his contract – with the way sterling has weakened against the euro, the Reds’ owners will be hoping that price tag has come down.
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