Liverpool and Arsenal target: £8m Barca star transfer spotlight

Barcelona's £8 million-rated right-back Martin Montoya is reportedly interesting Arsenal and Liverpool, and the players' agent is certainly offering encouragement to the Premier Leagueheavyweights. talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight details the Spaniard...

Name: Martin Montoya
Date of birth: 14 April 1991
Birthplace: Gava, Spain
Club: Barcelona
Position: Right-back
International appearances: Spain U23 (5)
Honours: La Liga 2010/11, 2012/13, Copa del Rey 2011/12, Supercopa de Espana 2013, 2014, Runner-up 2012, U21 European Championship 2011, 2013

What's the latest?

Montoya has piqued the interest of Arsenal as well as Liverpool and Inter Milan, according to The Express, with those clubs encouraged by his struggle to hold down a first team spot, despite a high level of performance when called upon. The defender scored his first professional goal on June 1, 2013 in a win over Malaga (see the video below), but his appearance that day was just his 24th since 2011, including substitute cameos.

Did you know?

1) Montoya has been at Barcelona since the age of eight, working his way up to the first team via every section of the La Masia academy. While still registered as a Barcelona B player, he became one of a select few from the Spanish second division to receive a call-up to the national squad.

2) The 2010/2011 campaign was Montoya's most successful season to date. He earned his first cap for the Spain U21 squad, a European U21 Championship title and his first selection for the senior Spanish side. At club level he landed a La Liga winner's medal, but broke his collarbone during his first start, against Real Sociedad in April 2011, and missed the rest of the campaign.

3) Pep Guardiola has shown the most faith in the right-back to date. Montoya played the entirety of his final game as Barcelona manager, producing a solid and polished performance in the 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the 2012 Copa Del Rey final.

4) Despite less than half a dozen appearances in the 2012/13 season under Tito Vilanova, Montoya managed to keep Cristiano Ronaldo's threat to a minimum in both the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga fixtures against Real Madrid. Less attack minded than Barcelona team-mates Alves and Adriano, the young right-back's defensive qualities were in evidence during seven appearances at the successful U21 European Championship.

5) New Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has declined to utilise Montoya so far this season, preferring Alves in every game played during his brief tenure. The Spaniard has yet to play a single minute in any competition despite an impressive pre-season.

They say
“The market is closed but the contract renewal has not come yet. This summer there were interesting talks with Italian clubs like Inter Milan and Napoli, as well as Bayer Leverkusen,Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool." Montoya's agent, Jose Maria Orobitg, as reported on talkSPORT.com