Alberto Moreno
Reuters

Liverpool were expected to complete the transfer of Alberto Moreno from Sevilla last week but reports in Spain suggest the deal has been delayed due to the Reds' reluctance to pay his transfer fee in one lump sum up front.

According to the reports, Moreno has agreed a five-year deal - worth €1.5m a year - with Brendan Rodgers' side and has been waiting to receive the green light from both clubs to travel to Liverpool and undergo a medical to complete the deal.

However, Sevilla-based newspaper Estadio Deportivo report the negotiations have suffered a delay due to payment issues within the talks between the clubs.

Liverpool's initial bid included the offer of attacking midfielder Suso joining Sevilla on loan as part of a cut-price offer but that offer was turned away by the Andalusian club. A fee of €20m plus €2m add-ons was then agreed.

However, negotiations have stalled again as Liverpool's current offer sees the fee of €20m paid in several instalments over the next few years while Sevilla are demanding they receive most of that amount now.

Estadio Deportivo believes that the deal is not at risk of falling through but suggest the negotiations will take much longer than expected.

Moreno was named in Spain's 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup but was excluded from the final list.

Despite recently stating he is very happy at Sevilla, the full back is currently on holiday awaiting a call to complete his move to Merseyside.

Moreno would solve Brendan Rodgers' problems on the left-flank after Jose Enrique was left on the sidelines for most of last season due to injury, while Valencia loanee Aly Cissokho failed to match expectations.

Should Moreno finally complete his move to Liverpool he will be their third signing of the summer transfer window – having already sealed deals for Southampton striker Rickie Lambert and Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.