Real Madrid to help Morientes' Liverpool move

Real Madrid are expected to argue in Liverpool's favour should the Merseyside giants strike a deal for striker Fernando Morientes.

The Spanish international's agent was in Liverpool on Tuesday morning to discuss a January move for his client.

Gines Carvajal later said: "Fernando isn't happy because he's not playing. He knew he wasn't likely to be in their starting XI but he did hope to play."

"If he hadn't belonged to Real Madrid maybe they would have tried to sign him at any cost because he's a galactico. Because they already own him, he isn't classed as one. It's always easier to give a chance to an outsider than someone who is already at the club."

One potential snag, should Real and Liverpool try to proceed, could be the fact that Uefa does not permit a player to move between national associations more than once a season.

The Independent says Real will argue that since Morientes was on loan at Monaco - where he finished the top scorer in the Champions' League last season - he officially remained on the books at the Bernabeu.