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Reported Nottingham Forest target Pedro Chirivella idolises Xabi Alonso

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso celebrates scoring against Derby County during their English Premiership football match at Anfield, Liverpool, north-west E...
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Championship duo Nottingham Forest and Swansea City are both reportedly interested in Liverpool’s Premier League youngster Pedro Chirivella.

Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on during a press conference at Anfield on April 23, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is keen to clear the deadwood from a rather bloated squad with the 2018/19 season looming large on the horizon.

According to the Mirror, there are eight players on the Anfield chopping block, including the likes of Loris Karius, Danny Ings and Divock Origi. One player who probably won’t be missed by the Liverpool supporters, however, is Pedro Chirivella.

The Mirror claims that the Spaniard isn’t in Jurgen Klopp’s plans and Liverpool are ready to cash in on a player who they value at £5 million. Nottingham Forest and Swansea are interested but why should they be excited about a player who hasn’t made an appearance for the Merseyside giants since May 2016?

Well, Chirivella may not have emerged as a star under Klopp at Anfield but comparisons with a modern-day Liverpool legend in Xabi Alonso are hard to overlook.

Pedro Chirivella of Liverpool is closed down by Andre Ayew of Swansea City during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Liverpool at The Liberty Stadium on May 1, 2016...

He was compared to the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich playmaker when moving to Liverpool from Valencia in 2013. And in an interview with the club’s YouTube channel, the former Spain U18 captain admitted that Alonso is a player he bases himself on.

“I think I am a player who can pass the ball really good and read the game. I think I’m very good tactically,” Chirivella, who spent the last two seasons on loan in Holland, said.

“My idol has always been Xabi Alonso. He’s brilliant.”

So Nottingham Forest could be getting a masterful ball-player capable of controlling the tempo from the base of midfield.

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso celebrates scoring against Derby County during their English Premiership football match at Anfield, Liverpool, north-west England, 01 September 2007. AFP PHOTO