Riera headed to Villarreal ???

Spanish side Villarreal are reportedly targeting Liverpool winger Albert Riera as an ideal replacement for Robert Pires in the summer.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the La Liga side are contemplating a £6 million swoop for the Reds’ out-of-favour wide man, who has made just nine Premier League starts for the Anfield outfit this season.

Injuries and a lack of form have pushed the 27-year-old towards the fringes of Rafael Benitez's under-performing Merseysiders, while the arrival of Maxi Rodriguez in January has also seen his first-team opportunities limited further.However, he could be set for a return to his homeland with the report quoting a Villarreal source as saying: "If a deal for [Albert] Riera is feasible, we will have to explore our options."Meanwhile, Pires’ current one-year deal at El Madrigal expires at the end of the season and he is widely tipped to leave the club, which could pave the way for a move for Riera.Yet the Yellow Submarines could face competition for Riera’s signature with the report concluding that Sevilla are also interested in bringing the winger back to Spain.