Albiol the latest defender to be linked to Reds

Liverpool are set to make an approach for Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol, as they continue to search for a replacement for Jamie Carragher.

Carragher will retire after Sunday’s home match against Queens Park Rangers, while fellow centre backs Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates are both rumoured to also be leaving Anfield.

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams was linked with a move to Liverpool that would have seen him reunited with Brendan Rodgers, though he is thought to favour a move to Arsenal.

Reports in Italy claim that Albiol, who has made just eleven starts for Real this season, is willing to move in order to put himself in the reckoning for Spain’s World Cup squad for next year.

Meanwhile, the club have rewarded seventeen year old defender Lloyd Jones with a three-year contract, following his impressive progress which saw him named on the bench for Sunday’s win at Fulham.

Elsewhere, Liverpool will not be entering the Europa League next season through the Fair Play League as England failed to be offered an extra place.

The final standings saw Sweden, Norway and Finland finish in the top three, while England who were fourth back in December, eventually finished in ninth position.