Liverpool & Arsenal face transfer battle for Montoya

Liverpool and Arsenal will have to see off interest from Napoli if they are to seal a winter deal for Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya, according to reports from talkSPORT. The 22-year-old defender looks set to leave the Nou Camp during the next transfer window with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. The youngster has grown frustrated at a lack of first- team opportunities with the club, and wants assurances of regular action if he is to stay. But with Daniel Alves Barca’s regular right-sided defender, Montoya’s chances of a guaranteed slot in the starting XI are bleak. This has alerted Liverpool and Arsenal, who are both keen to lure the La Masia graduate to the Premier League. However, the English pair look set to face competition from Rafael Benitez’s Napoli. The Italians are also tracking Montoya, and see him as the ideal addition as they look to build a side capable of challenging for the Serie A title. Benitez is hopeful that the presence of a number of Spaniards at the Stadio San Paolo – including Jose Callejon, Raul Albiol and Pepe Reina – may be enough to persuade Montoya to swap his homeland for Naples.