Assaidi set to be makeweight for Ilori deal.
Liverpool are exploring new avenues in their attempt to sign long-term Sporting Lisbon target Tiago Ilori, by offering Oussama Assaidi in a loan deal, reports O Jogo.
The Reds are hoping that by lending Assaidi to the Portuguese club they can convince them to lower the asking price for Ilori.
The 20-year-old is highly rated by Sporting and president Bruno de Carvalho has already rejected a £3.6m bid from the Anfield outfit.
Whilst Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to land his man, rather than spending more from the transfer kitty the Northern Irishman is aiming to offload one of his more unused squad players.
Since the Moroccan’s £3.5m move from Heerenveen in the summer of 2012, Assaidi has played just 12 times for the Merseyside club and has failed to start a single Premier League match.
Ilori meanwhile has broken into the Sporting first team this year and Rodgers is eyeing up the Portuguese defender as long-term successor to the retiring Jamie Carragher.
The centre-back has represented Portugal at under-19 level, but would perhaps be keen on a move to England as Ilori was born in London and has dual nationality.
In 2012/13 the defender made 12 first team appearances, including once in the Europa League and even managed to score one goal in the Primeira Liga.
Defence is clearly a priority for Liverpool this summer as they have already secured the services of Manchester City veteran Kolo Toure on a free transfer and have also been strongly linked with a move for highly rated Schalke 04 starlet Krgiakos Papadopolous.
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