‘Alberto Aquilani will certainly stay at Liverpool’ – agent

Alberto Aquilani will not be leaving Liverpool this summer, according to the player’s agent.

The Italian has been linked with a move away from Merseyside, with Fiorentina and Juventus mooted as possible destinations.

A move to Juventus, who he played for last season on loan, appears to be dead after the club refused to meet Liverpool’s asking price, but Fiorentina are still thought to be interested.

But his agent Franco Zavaglia has stated the midfielder wants to prove himself in the Premier League and force his way into Kenny Dalglish’s plans.

“Aquilani will certainly stay at Liverpool,” Franco Zavaglia told Radio Mana Mana.

“Alberto has got over his ankle problem, he’s back in the international set-up and has the characteristics needed to do well in the Premier League.

“He’s in pre-season training with Liverpool and has played in all of the team’s summer tour games so far.”

The former Roma man joined Liverpool in the summer of 2009 as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but was sidelined through injury for much of his first season and was subsequently loaned out to Juventus by then boss Roy Hodgson in 2010.

Aquilani will face more competition for a place in the starting XI from new arrivals Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson.