Liverpool’s young Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori is being linked with a transfer window move to La Liga with Granada. I understand that the move will initially be a loan until the end of the season with the option to make this permanent before the start of the next season.
Ilori had been talked of as one for the future at Anfield, when Brendan Rodgers signed him at the beginning of the 2013-14 season for a fee of £7M. He has composure on the ball and likes to play the ball from the back rather than looking for the long ball forward. With Jamie Carragher having retired from the game, it had been thought that Ilori could benefit but he hasn’t made the expected progress.
At just 20 years of age, Ilori needs to play regular games to learn the defender’s trade. He has found himself well down the pecking order behind the likes of Skrtel, Agger, Kolo Toure and Sakho. A move to La Liga with Granada will be perfect for both player and new club.
Granada are currently in 9th place in La Liga, well ahead of expectations but the league is tight this year and although they have only conceded 25 goals they do need to strengthen their defence in order to avoid slipping down the table. Lucas Alcaraz has made him Granada’s number one transfer target this January.
Although Ilori has played all of his club football in Portugal (he has yet to make a first team appearance for Liverpool), he was actually born in London – but it could be in the Spanish sun that he finally shines.
