Athletic Bilbao are waiting for a bid from Liverpool to arrive for midfielder Javi Martinez.

The Anfield club are battling it out with Italian side Fiorentina to land the 19-year-old midfield ace - but Martinez knows where he would prefer to play.

Martinez said: "I watch the Premier League games on TV, and the atmosphere is magnificent. But I don't yet know anything of Liverpool's interest."

Athletic would demand £17million for one of the brightest young talents in Spain, and the Basque club are confident of hanging onto Martinez.

A club spokesman said: "We haven't received an official offer. For the moment, we are calm."