Valencia's Ever Banega close to £8.5m Liverpool switch

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega is keen on securing a summer move to Liverpool, Goal.com has learned.

It appears that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to raid his former club.

Now it is believed that Banega is fully in favour of a move to Anfield, despite the lack of UEFA Champions League football on Merseyside next season.

Sources close to the 21-year-old central midfielder have told Goal.com Spain that the Reds have put on the table a four-year contract, which has delighted the midfielder, paving the way for a move which would see him link up with fellow Argentinians Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua.

It is understood that Liverpool have made a bid of around £8.5 million [€10m], Banega's buyout clause, but is considerably less than the £15m [€18m] los Che paid Boca Juniors to take him from the Bombonera two years ago.

Since leaving his home country, Banega has endured an up-and-down time in Spain, struggling to settle at first and being the subject of a fairly embarrassing 'video scandal'.

He was loaned out to Atletico Madrid and monitored by Everton, but was eventually recalled by coach Unai Emery and realised his potential this season. Alongside David Villa and Silva, Banega was hailed as one of the key components in Valencia's team, who have secured third place in La Liga behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Valencia's financial problems are well publicised and despite talk of potential big-money departures from the Mestalla, such as David Villa, Silva and Juan Mata, the transfer income from such sales would not be sufficient to get anywhere near clearing their debt, which is now in excess of £511m [€600m]. As a result, every player is unofficially for sale this summer in what could be another make-or-break transfer window for the club.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.