Central defender is also wanted by a number of clubs in Spain now.
Liverpool are growing increasingly concerned that they may miss out on their number one defensive target of the summer, coveted young Sporting Lisbon centre back Tiago Ilori, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The Portugal Under-21 international has been with the Lisbon giants for his entire career, having made his debut in the Portuguese capital two seasons ago.
In the intervening two-year period, the highly promising 20-year-old has featured in only 12 appearances in the top flight for Sporting, scoring just the one goal in the process.
And Liverpool head coach Brendan Rodgers, who was tracking the player for the whole of the last campaign, had hoped to be able to tie up a deal to bring Ilori to Anfield when the summer transfer window finally swings open for action once again on July 1.
However, it is understood that the Northern Irishman now faces competition for the youngster’s signature from a number of Liga clubs.
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