Liverpool CONTACT Benfica over Robertson successor

Liverpool could soon be in the market for a left-back.

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Current incumbent Andy Robertson has served the club with distinction since 2017 but will turn 31 before the season ends.

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There are signs that the Scotland international is no longer the force he once was and plans are reportedly under way for a successor to be signed.

Among the names discussed as potential incomings have been Antonee Robinson and Milos Kerkez - of Fulham and Bournemouth respectively. But Liverpool could also opt to look beyond the Premier League for their next starting left-back.

Alvaro Carreras is one such name in the frame. The Benfica left-back has been mentioned in previous reports as a potential Liverpool target.

The 21-year-old Spaniard moved to Benfica last summer from Manchester United for only €6 million and has since established himself as a consistent performer in both the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the Champions League.

This season he has played 33 matches, scoring three goals and adding four assists, and is reported to have a €50m release clause in his Benfica contract.

And now Jornal de Notícias is claiming that Liverpool are among several European giants to have contacted Benfica over a potential transfer in the January window.

Liverpool contact Benfica

Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also credited with making contact although the name of Tomas Araujo is mentioned too.

The report states Carreras and Araujo were the subjects of enquiries from the above clubs even though it’s not stipulated which club made contact for which player.

“Several European giants, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool, PSG and Chelsea, recently contacted Benfica to find out about the negotiation conditions for Álvaro Carreras and Tomás Araújo, JN found out,” the report states.

“The left-back and the defender were the Eagles' main targets in the final transfer window. However, [Benfica] chose not to even give a response to interested parties, as there was no desire to enter into negotiations.”

Araujo, 22, would be a new name in the frame for Liverpool with the centre-back becoming a first-choice this season under Bruno Lage. However, given the history with Carreras, it is more likely the Reds were in touch regarding the left-back.

It is believed that Real Madrid also hold interest in Carreras, who spent time at the Bernabeu as a youth player before moving on to Man Utd.

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His time at Old Trafford did not feature a first-team breakthrough, instead he was sent on loan to Preston, Granada and Benfica before making the decisive switch to Portugal last summer.

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