Liverpool Coates-ing £8M defender

Liverpool have made an £8million offer for the Uruguay international Sebastián Coates but face competition for his signature as Nacional encourage an auction for the 20-year-old defender.

Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owner, has met the Uruguay champions' current valuation of their 6ft 6in centre-half as they look to provide the manager, Kenny Dalglish, with his sixth summer signing.

Nacional this week granted permission to Coates's father, Peter, and agent, Matias Pittini, to discuss the terms of the transfer with Liverpool, who remain firm favourites to sign a player whose profile soared during Uruguay's triumphant Copa América campaign last month. "The offer is very good," Héctor Olmos, Nacional's vice-president, told a radio station on Tuesday. "Coates will surely go to Liverpool."

Nacional, however, are aware of interest from several Premier League teams, including Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as from clubs in Italy, Ukraine and throughout South America, and are attempting to hold out for the highest bidder.

Coates was valued at €3.5million (£3.06million) when talks were held over a proposed move to Porto before the Copa América and Nacional hope City will top Liverpool's bid in the coming days.

Read more: Guardian

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