Liverpool face competition from Internazionale in the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra.
Benitez eyes move for Real ace
Liverpool face competition from UEFA Champions League rivals Internazionale in the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, according to the player's agent.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez is understood to be a long-term admirer of the £20million-rated 25-year-old, who joined Real in 2006 from Lyon.
However, Benitez faces tough competition from Italian trio Inter - who the Reds face in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday - Milan and Juventus if he is to tempt Diarra away from the Bernabeu.
"Internazionale contacted me in January to try and sign Mahamadou in the last transfer window," Diarra's agent, Frederic Guerra, told the
News of the World.
"We were also contacted by Liverpool, Milan and Juventus. Diarra still has three years left on his contract but we're willing to listen to all the offers and then we will talk to Real and see what is decided."
Liverpool are also understood to be chasing Schalke's £5million-rated full-back Rafinha, who is also thought to be a target of clubs in Spain, much to the delight of the Brazilian.
Rafinha said in the News of the World: "I am very happy that clubs from both England and Spain are watching me."
