Villarreal are chasing Liverpool winger Albert Riera.

The News of the World says Riera is a £6million target for Villarreal as they seek to replace Robert Pires.

The Spaniard has made just 33 league starts for Liverpool since he joined from Espanyol for £8m in September 2008.

Riera, 27, has featured less this season than last term and has been pushed even further down boss Rafa Benitez's pecking order by the arrival of Argentine star Maxi Rodriguez back in January.

A source for Villarreal said: "If a deal for Riera is feasible, we will have to explore our options."