Four English clubs chase Morientes

Four English clubs are in the hunt for Real Madrid’s out-of-favour striker Fernando Morientes, according to his agent.

The Spanish international is top of Liverpool’s wanted list but Newcastle are also reported to be interested in the forward.

The other two English clubs are unknown as yet.

Morientes’ superb performances led Monaco, with whom he was on loan last season, into the Champions League final but he has fallen behind behind Ronaldo, Raul and Michael Owen in the pecking order at the Bernabeu and is looking for a permanent move away.

Gines Carvajal, Morientes’ agent, told Marca: “Morientes now has four offers from different English clubs and two from French teams.

“We will have to wait and see what happens, but he is very clear in his mind that he wants to play and wants to do so in a great and competitive team.

“We’re not considering a loan deal. What we want is a transfer. He already went last season on loan for six months and he doesn’t want to do that again.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s talks with Brazilian forward Robinho, with whom Chelsea have been linked, are ongoing.

The player told Marca: “The transfer negotiations with Real Madrid are advanced, but I cannot talk of Real Madrid out of respect for my current team Santos.”