Liverpool are ready to step up their interest in Udinese star Mauricio Isla to pave the way for a summer transfer according to sources in the player’s native country Chile.

 

The 23-year-old is thought to have impressed Reds scouts with his performances for Udinese this season as the club maintain yet another unlikely Serie A title challenge, having absorbed the losses of Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Gokhan Inler (Napoli) and Cristian Zapata (Villarreal).

 

Isla is a player of great versatility, a fact which is also sure to have attracted Liverpool, and can operate in both full back positions, right across the midfield and as a wide forward.

 

Isla would offer Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish a multitude of options, though the Reds are likeliest to use the Chilean as an attacking threat along the flank.

 

Udinese value the Chilean highly, but it is thought the Serie A side would be willing to cash in if Liverpool sent an offer of €15M to southern Italy.

 

Such a sum looks well within reach for the Reds and preparatory work for a summer transfer is expected to be undertaken.

 

Isla starred in the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup for Chile and was quickly snapped up by Udinese on the basis of his displays in Canada.

 

He has since gone on to establish himself in the senior Chile team, while also cementing a spot as a regular with Udinese.

 

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