Rumour: Liverpool are still chasing Barcelona’s Christian Tello

Liverpool will still like to bolster their already formidable frontline

According to The Mirror, Liverpool are still chasing Barcelona youngster Cristian Tello, despite the Spanish club’s 14-month ban on signings.

Liverpool have reportedly been tracking the 22-year-old for since Kenny Dalglish was at the helm and would be willing to sanction a £12 million deal.

Barcelona will be appealing Fifa’s decision to prevent the Spanish giants from conducting any business in the upcoming transfer window. Should this appeal be successful, then Liverpool will be first in line to court the talented forward.

Cristian Tello has featured in 18 La Liga games for Barcelona this season – four less than the 2012/13 campaign.

To further his development, Tello may be tempted to leave Barcelona if he can be guaranteed first-team football at another club.

With Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling in such fine fettle you’d have to wonder if Tello would start at Liverpool and whether he’d want to fight for a starting berth in England over his native country.

On the other hand, Liverpool will be fighting on numerous fronts next season, with a Champions League spot all but secured and the two domestic cups to consider, so there will be plenty of opportunity for squad rotation.

Liverpool’s relative fortune with regards to injuries this season (a product, in part, of playing 11 games less than the Premier League’s other top sides) has belied their lack of squad depth. A marquee signing like Cristian Tello would go some way to rectify this.