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Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of Asier Illarramendi after Real Madrid officially put him up for sale, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.

Brendan Rodgers’ Reds have been tracking the 25-year-old’s situation for some time and are ready to back up their interest with an offer of around £8.5million.

Real are looking for closer to £10m plus add-ons, and have been contacted by other interested clubs.

But it is Liverpool who are in the driving seat and they are keen to get the deal over the line in the coming weeks.

Illarramendi joined Real from Real Sociedad in 2013.