Spanish starlet welcomes Liverpool interest
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Reported Liverpool target Javi Martinez has suggested he would welcome the chance to join the club.
The Athletic Bilbao midfielder, 20, has been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso and reports claim Rafa Benitez is ready to make a move.
And while the player’s mother claimed in a recent interview with El Correo Digital that there was nothing in the rumours, the Spain Under-21 international has now hinted he would relish the chance to move to Anfield.
“Any player would want to be part of such a good squad,” he said in the Daily Mirror.
However, the player has a contract until 2014 with a release clause of €30m (£26.1m) until 2011 and €36m (£31.4m) from 2011 to 2014, and Canal Athletic quotes sources as saying Bilbao are refusing to sell for anything less.
Club president Fernando Garcia Macua has also played down speculation Martinez could leave Estadio San Mames.
He told ETB: "We don't want to sell anyone who is part of the spine of the team."
Fiorentina have also been linked with Martinez.