• Ian Ayre in Spain to finalise deals with Sevilla and Atlético • Young duo seen as national team’s future full-back pairing

Liverpool’s chief executive, Ian Ayre, has travelled to Spain in an attempt to end the impasse over Alberto Moreno’s proposed transfer from Sevilla and finalise Javier Manquillo’s move to Anfield.

The Anfield club made an offer worth up to £16m for Moreno earlier this summer but Sevilla have held firm on their £20m valuation of the 22-year-old left-back. That led Liverpool to consider alternative targets Ryan Bertrand and Ben Davies, who have since joined Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, while keeping their offer on the table for Moreno, the manager Brendan Rodgers’s first-choice option.

Liverpool have continued negotiations with the Andalucian club and, as Ayre’s trip indicates, are hopeful a compromise deal for the defender can be agreed in the next few days.

Moreno would be Rodgers’s sixth permanent signing this summer should a breakthrough be made with Sevilla and Liverpool arehe is also close to acquiring Manquillo on loan from Atlético Madrid. The Spain Under-20 right-back is expected to join on loan with a view to a permanent transfer of around £5m.