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Liverpool 'send scouts' to watch £16.8m La Liga defender ahead of Andy Robertson 'talks'

Another Robertson replacement: Liverpool 'send scouts' to watch £16.8m defender
© Imago
Liverpool are reportedly locked in a two-way battle with Aston Villa to sign a potential Andy Robertson replacement in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool are reportedly locked in a two-way battle with Aston Villa to sign Villarreal left-back Sergi Cardona in the summer transfer window.

The Reds have achieved astounding success with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson bombing down the flanks in the past several years, but Arne Slot is facing the prospect of having neither man at his disposal next season.

Real Madrid-linked Alexander-Arnold is yet to sign an extension to his current contract, which expires in June, while Robertson can leave for free in 2026 and is reportedly set to hold crunch talks over his future at Anfield this summer.

Slot is said to be keen to keep the Scotland international at the club for one more season, but Robertson is now in his 30s and has come under fire for a perceived decline in performance during the 2024-25 season.

As such, even if Robertson - and his backup Kostas Tsimikas - remain at the club for the new campaign, Liverpool are expected to enter the market for a long-term successor to the former.

Liverpool 'send scouts' to watch Villarreal's Cardona

Liverpool's Andy Robertson looks dejected on December 14, 2024© Imago

According to BirminghamLive, Villarreal 25-year-old Cardona is the latest player to catch the eye of the Reds, who have been sending scouts to keep tabs on the defender's displays in his homeland.

Cardona joined the Yellow Submarine on a free transfer from Las Palmas last summer and has taken no time at all to adapt to the Villarreal system, registering one goal and six assists from 26 La Liga games this season.

The Spaniard was apparently scouted by both Liverpool and Villa in recent clashes with Rayo Vallecano and Alaves, and he only signed a three-year deal upon his arrival at La Ceramica last summer.

As a result, Villarreal will reportedly not turn their nose up to bids in the range of €15m (£12.6m) and €20m (£16.8m) in the summer window, even though they are actively working to extend Cardona's contract.

Which other left-backs are Liverpool targeting?

Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez on December 5, 2024© Imago

While Liverpool and Aston Villa may both be able to offer Cardona Champions League football next season, Unai Emery's side could have the upper hand in the race to sign the 6ft 1in full-back.

Villa and Villarreal are of course connected by Emery, as well as Pau Torres - whom the Lions signed from the Yellow Submarine in 2023 - while sporting director Monchi has close contacts in the La Liga market from his time with Sevilla.

Liverpool are not short of alternative targets, though, and it has been claimed that Slot's side are already close to winning the race for Bournemouth and Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez.

Should that move fall through, Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri is another potential option for the Reds, and they have reportedly learned what it will take to prise him away from Molineux this summer.

Fulham's Antonee Robinson has also been mentioned as a possible target, but the American recently played down links with a summer switch to Anfield.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas pictured on February 23, 2025
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CLiverpool35257381354682
2Arsenal351813464313367
3Manchester CityMan City35197967432464
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351961066452163
5Chelsea35189862412163
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest351871054421261
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10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton35131395756152
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12Crystal Palace351113114448-446
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35125185162-1141
14Everton35815123643-739
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd35109164251-939
16Tottenham HotspurSpurs35115196357638
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham35910164059-1937
RIpswich TownIpswich35410213576-4122
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RSouthampton3525282582-5711


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