Barcelona chief Ariedo Braida confirms Liverpool target Montoya can move away this summer

Barcelona international sporting director, Ariedo Braida, has given a big boost to Liverpool over their attempts to sign Martin Montoya after revealing the defender can leave the Camp Nou this summer.

The Spanish international right-back has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside in recent years.

Brendan Rodgers reportedly tried to secure his services last summer when instead signed his compatriot Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid in a two-year-loan deal.

The speculations over Montoya's move to the Premier League have re-emerged in recent days after the Merseysiders announced the departure of Glen Johnson as his contract expires on 30 June.

Even though Montoya just signed a new deal until 2018 with a €20m (£14m, $22.4m) release clause last year, he tried to leave the Camp Nou during the January transfer window due to the lack of playing time at the Champions League winners.

And last week Catalan-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo claimed he is again likely to move away, with Liverpool, Inter Milan and Juventus closely monitoring the situation.

Barcelona blocked his departure during the January transfer window due to Alves's uncertain future but, according to Braida himself, are now open to his move after the club recently renewed the contract of the Brazilian while completing the signing of full wing-back Aleix Vidal from Sevilla.

"In the coming days we are going to have a meeting with the agent of the player in order to make a decision. The possibility of him leaving is concrete" Braida confirmed to fcinternews.it.

Meanwhile, the agent of Marc Barta, Javier Magico Diaz, has claimed the future of the Barcelona centre-back is also uncertain amid reports from Sky Sports claiming Tottenham are interested in his services.

"There is interest in Marc from England and other countries in Europe. This is normal, but I cannot speak about the clubs. He is happy at Barcelona but he wants to play more games and we will look at the options. He has a €12m release clause in his contract," Diaz said, according to Sky Sports.