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Liverpool news: Lazio close to securing deal for Alberto Moreno

Lazio are close to a pre-contract agreement with Alberto Moreno who will leave Liverpool this summer after five seasons at Anfield.

The Serie A club’s city rivals AS Roma had also been interested in taking the left back to Italy before sporting director Monchi departed in the wake of Eusebio di Francesco’s sacking as manager.

Monchi has since rejected an approach from Arsenal and opted instead to return to Spain with his former employers Sevilla – which happens to be Moreno’s last club as well.

Sevilla are yet to make Moreno an offer to return to his home city, unlike Real Betis who Moreno had supported as a child, along with his brother.

Moreno’s subsequent association with Sevilla meant this move was always unlikely though not impossible depending on interest from elsewhere.

Lazio have a good track record of reigniting the careers of former Liverpool players, with Luis Alberto and Lucas Leiva both flourishing in midfield roles since transferring to the Stadio Olimpico.

Moreno, 26, has started just two league games for Liverpool this season, the last at Burnley in December when he was the first player to be substituted.

He has seen game time reduced due to the emergence of Andy Robertson as one of the Premier League’s most consistent full backs.

Moreno’s position has been under threat since his mistake in the Europa League final in 2016, which allowed Sevilla to equalise in the first minute of the second half.

He then endured an uncomfortable return to his boyhood club when Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead to draw in a Champions League group fixture in November 2017.

He has been free to discuss terms with other clubs since the start of 2018. Though Robertson is suspended for the Champions League quarter final first leg tie with Porto, James Milner is expected to fill in at left back in spite of Moreno’s availability.