Azpilicueta tracked by Reds

Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Newcastle in the race to sign Marseille's £8million-rated right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Spanish star, who will captain his country at the Olympic Games tournament, is a wanted man after two seasons in France in which he has emerged as one of the top full-backs in Ligue 1. A report in La Provence newspaper says Chelsea are still the favourites to sign the ex-Athletic Bilbao man, but that Liverpool and Newcastle could yet get their chance to speak to him. Chelsea are set to push on with their pursuit of the player once they have wrapped up the signing of Brazilian midfielder Oscar, who is also in London for the Games. But Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers speaks fluent Spanish and has been tracking Azpilicueta since he was head-hunted for the job in May. Right-back is not a priority position for Rodgers to address this summer with England star Glen Johnson appearing to be the first-choice, although the versatile ex-Chelsea man has done well at left-back too.