Rayo Vallecano are currently struggling at the foot of the La Liga table, but that hasn't stopped Liverpool from scouting one of their players.

talkSPORT takes a look at Saul Niguez, who is on loan at Vallecas from Atletico Madrid...

Reports in England claim that Liverpool sent scouts to watch Niguez on Sunday. The midfielder was playing for Rayo in a Madrid derby against his parent club Atletico, and it isn't the first time Premier League clubs have been linked with him. Manchester United's Phil Neville reportedly watched him in action earlier this month. The Spaniard's contract with Atleti runs until 2016.

An Atletico Madrid youth product, Saul's debut with the first team came in March 2012 during a Europa League clash with Besiktas. He is the son of former Elche striker Boria Niguez.

In the 2012-13 season the midfielder regularly trained with the Atletico first team, and went on to make a handful of appearances across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Europa League.

As part of the deal that brought Leo Baptistao to the Vicente Calderon, Atletico agreed to send Saul on loan to Rayo Vallecano for the 2013-14 season. He has made 22 appearances for the La Liga strugglers.

As well as playing as a defensive midfielder, Saul has also been used at centre-back regularly by Rayo coach Paco Jemez.

The Elche native played four games for the Spain side that won the 2012 UEFA U19 European Championship and he made five appearances for Spain's U20s at the U20 World Cup last summer.