Real rival Rodgers’ Reds for Spanish starlet Moreno

Champions League hopefuls Real Madrid (4/1) and Liverpool (third-favourites to win the Premier League at 6/1) are set to go head-to-head in the summer over 21-year-old Alberto Moreno, with the former seemingly now ahead in the race.

Both Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers are in the hunt for a left back but it now looks as if the La Liga leaders hold the home advantage to sign the two-time Spain international. Sevilla star Moreno has a release clause of £25m, but Real are reportedly set to offer £16m plus one of their youngsters.

Despite Moreno recently stating that he was as “happy as a fish in water” in Seville, the lure of a high contract and playing Champions League football next season – his club are currently in seventh in La Liga and 10 points off fourth – could sway his mind.

The Reds are scouring the market in search of new talent to replace injury-prone Jose Enrique. Aly Cissokho, meanwhile, is set to return to parent club Valencia when his loan spell finishes at the end of the current campaign, as he has failed to impress Rodgers.

Madrid currently have Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao on their books, but with the latter’s future uncertain, following continuous links with a move to Manchester United to replace Patrice Evra in the summer, they will need backup for their Brazilian.

Marcelo has firmly cemented his place in the team now and, although his contract ends in 2015, it is very unlikely he will depart.

The World Cup first choice left back – whose country are favourites at 3/1 to win on home soil – has played 20 league games this season, compared to Coentrao’s six, and has helped his side out with seven assists and a goal.

Premier League rivals Man Utd and Arsenal have also reportedly been linked with young Moreno.