Liverpool agree £6m fee with Lazio for transfer of Luis Alberto

Liverpool have agreed a £6m ($8m) deal in principle for the transfer of midfielder Luis Alberto to Lazio after the Spaniard failed to pin down a first team spot since arriving at the club in 2013. The Italian club have to pay £4.3m ($6m) up front while the rest of the fee is expected to be triggered on account of European qualification.

The Liverpool Echo reports that a deal between the clubs was agreed with the Reds also putting in a 30% sell-on clause in his contract. The Spaniard made only 12 appearances for the Reds in the 2013/14 season under Brendan Rodgers but has failed to acclimatise himself with the rigours of the Premier League.

He has been on a season-long loan in the last two campaigns, at Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna, but has finally agreed to a permanent move after being told that he is surplus to requirements at Anfield by manager Jurgen Klopp. Meanwhile, the Reds have all but completed their transfer activity this summer, having made seven signings. They have had a bittersweet start to their Premier League campaign, winning against Arsenal at the Emirates but succumbing to a 2-0 loss to Burnley, before drawing 1-1 against Tottenham.

There is still a question mark over Daniel Sturridge's role at the club, with the manager keen on starting him on the wings despite the striker's desire to work through the middle. Klopp believes that the Reds employ a very fluid system which allows Sturridge to cut inside, rather than hog the touchline.

"I don't want to play Daniel as a wide player but of course he can start there and of course he can play there but in the decisive moments he needs to be involved in all of the finishing situations," Klopp told Sky Sports.

"I think he scored both goals [when he was] inside the box so he wasn't on the wing in this moment. That is flexible football. Daniel is a very smart player. He's good at getting himself into positions where it's not easy to defend."