Tiago Ilori Set To Sign From Liverpool

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Rumours are gathering pace that Reading are set to complete the signing of Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori. Initial rumours suggested Ilori would be signing on a loan basis, but the Liverpool Echo are now reporting that the transfer deal has been done with Reading set to pay 3.75 milllion pounds for the player. Ilori joined Liverpool in a deal worth seven million pounds in September 2013 from Sporting Lisbon. Half of that fee was initially payable but other payments have failed to trigger with Ilori failing to break into the Reds first team and not making a single Premier League appearance during his time in Liverpool.

The player has been restricted to just three FA Cup appearances - which all came last season. He featured in a 2-2 draw with Exeter, a 3-0 replay win at Anfield, before Liverpool were dumped out of the cup at the hands of West Ham United. Before that he had loan spells at Granada, Bordeux and Aston Villa - but failed to make a competitive appearance with the Villians.

Ilori, initially from Portugal, is 23 years old and is reported to a tall, fast, left footed central defender. He played 33 times for Sporting while also playing for the Portugal youth teams, which attracted Liverpool to pay such a large transfer fee at the start of the 2013/2014 season. Despite his lack of Premier League action he continued to work through the Portugal national set-up and has ten under 21 caps and 3 for Portual's under 23s.

From the Discussion

RW royalp-we 5 Jan 2017 · 12:18am

Both Daily Mail & The Guardian reporting we are trying to loan the Liverpool defender, with option to buy at the end of season.
GE George_ 5 Jan 2017 · 8:14am

That'll be Cooper sent out on loan then if it happens. Probably for the best to go get game time and hopefully learn from mistakes he's made with us in the past.
LO LoyalRoyal22 5 Jan 2017 · 8:21am

Would be really happy with this. He is comfortable on the ball & I am pretty certain he is left footed, would give the back four better balance.
HO Hound 5 Jan 2017 · 8:33am

would make sense this one - similar situation to Blackett I suppose - young player not deemed good enough for the Prem was very highly rated a few years back
SU Sutekh 5 Jan 2017 · 9:11am

Isnt he the Portuguese guy who was actually born in London and whom the FA have been trying to convince to switch allegiance to England? Certainly be a coup if we persuaded him to come to the Mad Stad, cost Liverpool about £7m three years ago I think so might well be coming to the end of his current deal?
ST Stranded 5 Jan 2017 · 9:21am

So assuming there is truth in this - he is a centre half isn't he? Would be surprised if he came on loan to sit on the bench, so who drops out?
GE genome 5 Jan 2017 · 9:40am

I was under the impression he was terrible?
RW royalp-we 5 Jan 2017 · 9:47am

Could be another Carrico... But could just as easily be another Upson. Ilori has simply been used as a cup player for them, so may be worth looking at Liverpool v Plymouth on Sunday.

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