Liverpool is set to add another defender to their string of summer signings after Javier Manquillo finishes his medical.
The Independent is saying Manquillo will sign his two year loan deal after proving his health, and will join the team when they return from the International Champions Cup later this week.
Manquillo reigns from Spain and the 2014 La Liga Champions, Atletico Madrid. The 20-year-old played 10 games last year during the championship run, and he chose Liverpool in hopes of receiving more playing time.
Arsenal was rumored to be another top choice for Manquillo, but with the Gunners adding Frenchman, Mathieu Debuchy, it seemed as if there was not going to be playing time for him there, so he opted for Liverpool instead.
With Liverpool becoming the top option for him, the young Spanish back must compete with Glen Johnson for playing time, but in the long run, that may seem like an easy task.
Johnson has really performed well so far this preseason in the United States, but he has had contract talks stall. He has one year left on his contract and did not sign the one year extension offered in May, that would keep him at Anfield until 2016.
That means if Manquillo can come in and be a consistent factor in training, playing time could increase, and he could eventually have the starting spot this time next year. This may be Liverpool’s long-term plan, as well.
The reported agreement has the option that Liverpool could make the loan a permanent transfer after one year, for £5 million. With terms like that, Liverpool seems to have a definite interest in using the Spaniard for years to come.
Manquillo is a fearless defender, who is well known for his brash tackles on Cristiano Ronaldo during the Copa Del Rey last spring. He is young, but he can learn how to defend and the physical nature of the Premier League could be better suited for him.
Manquillo will be a great talent, once he gets his chance to shine regularly. He has suffered from his youth, struggling for minutes because Juanfran takes most of the first-team attention at Atletico and the Spanish National Team.
A move out of Spain could help the Atletico Academy alum reach new levels and start to challenge Juanfran for his starting spot with the international team.
Manquillo has started for Spain on the U20 team for the last couple years and he has waited for his turn to play at both the club and international levels. This should be a spark for him, being in a new environment, and he could be a star real soon.
