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Rumour Mill: Martin Montoya “could be open to” Liverpool move

Martin Montoya could see his loan spell with Inter Milan cut short this winter, opening up the prospect of revived interest from Liverpool.

The versatile Spanish full-back joined Inter on a temporary basis in the summer, but has failed to make an impact in Serie A.

Montoya has been on the substitutes’ bench for all of Inter’s league games so far this season but, astonishingly, is yet to make his competitive debut for the club.

Inter manager Roberto Mancini has largely preferred former Newcastle United right-back Davide Santon ahead of Montoya, but has even utilised attacking midfielder Ivan Perisic in this role.

This suggests that Montoya has no future at Inter, with the 24-year-old finding himself in a similar situation to Javier Manquillo at Liverpool last term.

According to the Mirror, citing reports from Italy, this could see his loan cut short in January.

This would, reportedly, allow Liverpool the opportunity to renew their interest.

Montoya is said to have chosen Milan over Merseyside this summer, but having been exiled by Mancini, “could be open” to a move to the Premier League.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 26, 2015: Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne in action against Aston Villa during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jurgen Klopp could well be in search of cover at right-back in January, with Nathaniel Clyne his only established senior option at present.

The return of Jon Flanagan from injury could relieve this pressure on Clyne, but with the Liverpool-born full-back so short of fitness, his reintroduction would need to be slow.

A move for Montoya, on paper, would make sense.

The Barcelona man is a defensively sound option, most comfortable at right-back but also able to deputise on the opposite flank, and boasts considerable top-level experience.

But his peripheral role at Inter, and Barcelona’s willingness to loan him out, should be a cause for concern.

As a short-term option as backup to Clyne, however, Liverpool could do worse than Montoya.