31.12.2004 - Morientes set for Madrid talks

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Fernando Morientes will wait for talks with Real Madrid's new coach Wanderley Luxemburgo before deciding on his future, the player's agent has revealed.

Morientes was yesterday reported as saying that he would be joining Liverpool in January, something which his agent has denied.

But despite the striker's intentions to hold talks with the new coach at the Bernabeu, Morientes' move to Merseyside could still be on, as he is unlikely to move up the order for places in the Real Madrid attack having failed to net a goal either in the league or in the group stage of the Champions League, albeit having played far less than the club's other strikers.

Ronaldo has seven goals in La Liga, Owen is one behind on six, while fans' favourite and Real Madrid captain has netted three times in the league and four times in the Champions League.

Rafa Benitez has not hidden his desire to bring Morientes to Anfield, and has had one offer rejected already. An eventual fee as low as £5million could be enough to tempt Real Madrid to part with the player though, and Benitez will be keen to complete any deal as soon into January as possible to boost Liverpool's strike force ahead of a busy schedule.