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

Sturridge hits back over club v country row

Daniel Sturridge has been forced to defend himself on Twitter after appearing to claim playing for Liverpool was more important than representing England.

Speaking to the Anfield club's official website just hours before England's crunch World Cup qualification tie with Ukraine, the 24-year-old said his ambition is to win trophies at club level.

"I'm more worried about Liverpool and more worried about putting in good performances for us, us winning games and challenging for trophies," Sturridge said.

"That's my main ambition - it's not about playing for England.

"That comes with doing the things you do for your club and if I don't play well here, I won't get the opportunity to do it

there [World Cup finals]."

Fans turned on Sturridge on the social networking site, and he was forced to defend himself to his 340,000 followers.

"Don't get it twisted... England is the pinnacle. To play for them is a dream come true. Just hoping to recover for Monday," he wrote, referring to Liverpool's Premier League match with Swansea.

"Some people never understand. Read the interview. If I do well for my club I will play for England. If I'm not fit I can't play."

Liverpool and Spurs wingers vie for England start

England manager Roy Hodgson (Action Images)

by SportsDirect News Reporter

10th September 2013 1:45pm BST

England travel to Kiev on Tuesday for a World Cup qualification match against Ukraine, with manager Roy Hodgson facing something of a selection crisis.

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert will make his third appearance for England, after injury ruled out Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, joint top-scorer in the Premier League.

Danny Welbeck is also unavailable for what is a crucial match for England. The Manchester United forward picked up his third yellow card of the World Cup qualification campaign against Moldova on Friday, meaning he is supsended for Tuesday's tie.

With Hodgson likely to continue with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, Lambert is expected to be partnered by Theo Walcott in a three-pronged attack.

Who the England manger will select to play on the opposite flank to Walcott is less certain however.

James Milner, Ashley Young, Andros Townsend and Raheem Sterling are all available for selection in the position.

Hodgson will name an otherwise unchanged lineup to the side that defeated Moldova 4-0 on Friday.

Joe Hart is expected to continue in goal, whilst Ashley Cole, Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are likely to play in defence, behind Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere in midfield.

Lampard will be making his 100th appearance for England, joining Cole and Gerrard amongst the elite ranks of eight players to have reached the landmark total.

A win for England would see them open up a thee-point lead at the top of Group H, with games at home to Montenegro and Poland to come in early October.

Ukraine meanwhile, coming off the back of a 9-0 win against San Marino are only one point behind England, and could themselves take pole position in the qualification standings. 

I was close to joining Liverpool reveals Atletico Madrid marksman Diego Costa

ATLETICO MADRID striker Diego Costa has professed that he was closing to joining Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

Diego Costa said he was close to joining Liverpool [GETTY]

The highly-rated 24-year-old piqued the interest of the Reds, who reportedly lodged a £20m bid that was rejected by the La Liga outfit.

Brendan Rodgers was keen on Costa, as he was looking to shore up his attacking options with Luis Suarez suspended.

And though a deal failed to materialise, Costa admitted he could have left the Vicente Calderon.

Diego Costa was the subject of a £20m bid from Liverpool [GETTY]

I had the chance to leave. I was about to do so

Diego Costa

"I had the chance to leave. I was about to do so," Costa told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.

"Liverpool are a great team. But, after so much fighting and overcoming many difficulties to earn my place at Atletico, how was I going to leave?

Brendan Rodgers was looking to bolster his attacking options with Luis Suarez suspended [GETTY]

"I thought that it was very important for me to continue growing in this club and to play here for many years.

"Here I have the trust and respect of the people. My feelings towards Atleti? I know the world of football."

Diego Costa ended up committing his future to Atleti [GETTY]

Gerrard Thinks Youngsters Can Become England Regulars

England captain Steven Gerrard thinks tonight’s match against Ukraine is an excellent chance for the younger generation to prove themselves on the big stage.

England have suffered a series of injuries heading into the match which was made worse by the news in-form striker Daniel Sturridge will also be sitting on the side-lines with a thigh strain.

With Daniel Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Steven Caulker and Glen Johnson all ruled out, Hodgson has called up Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend to the squad for the crucial match against Ukraine.

And Gerrard, who has achieved 104 caps for England, thinks the new players can cement a place in Roy Hodgson’s plans.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the new players. These are the games that get a lot of attention and if you perform well individually you get an awful lot of credit."

Gerrard made only his sixth cap when England triumphed with that unforgettable 5-1 victory of Germany in Munich and the Liverpool skipper thinks player can emulate his success.

“For me, Germany away was maybe similar to the position those lads are in now," He told Sky Sports.

"I was a young age with little experience, and we were playing away from home in a very important qualifier.

"I managed to get a goal and play well that night. It certainly propelled me on at international level.”

Rickie Lambert is set to make only his second start in tonight’s game having scored two in two for the Three Lions.

Potential Liverpool Front-Four When Suarez Returns

Brendan Rodger's Liverpool side are of to a flying start in the league, achieving maximum points after three games, with three clean sheets. Daniel Sturridge has started the season in a rich vein of form, bagging five goals in four appearances, including crucial winners in each of Liverpool's first three league encounters.

Luis Suarez' ten game ban comes to an end in time for Liverpool's Capital One Cup encounter away to Manchester United on September 25th - and Suarez too is banging in the goals, scoring two in Uruguay's 2-1 win over Peru. Suarez played in the central striking position in most of last season for his club. But with Daniel Sturridge in imperious form, Brendan Rodgers' plans to give the 26 year old a wide berth at Liverpool.

A 4-2-3-1 position, with Phillipe Coutinho moved in to the hole behind main striker Sturridge, Victor Moses, a loan signing from Chelsea, operating on the right wing - and Suarez on the opposite flank in a mouth-watering front four for Liverpool.

Suarez played in a more wider role with former club Ajax - and he will look to take some pressure of Sturridge and help him carry the goal-scoring burden.

Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona player have been boosted by the player's agent.

Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona player have been boosted by the player's agent.

Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya have been boosted by the player's agent.

Brendan Rodgers was interested in securing the defender's signature in the summer but the Catalan talent insisted on trying to break in to the Barca first team.

However, Dani Alves cannot be usurped and the Spaniard's representative Jose Maria Orobitg says his client could leave the Nou Camp next summer when his contract expires.

"The market is closed but the contract renewal has not come yet," Orobitg said.

"This summer Liverpool was interested."

Anything is possible in June."