Valencia manager Ruben Baraja has insisted goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili remains focused on the La Liga side amid ongoing speculation over a transfer to Liverpool.

Liverpool have identified the Georgia international as their preferred long-term replacement for Alisson and have been tipped to pursue Mamardashvili in a deal which would see him head out on loan until the Brazilian’s departure.

Bournemouth have been touted as the likely landing spot for Mamardashvili if he did join Liverpool, but Premier League rules block clubs from sending new signings on loan to clubs in the same division, meaning Valencia would have to agree a loan deal with Bournemouth and a future transfer to Liverpool in two separate negotiations.

The complicated nature of such a move has seen things move incredibly slow behind the scenes, and Baraja insisted he is doing his best to block out the speculation.

“It’s very simple. He’s our player, and as long as there is no other different situation, I’m not going to evaluate anything,” he said.

“He’s here, he’s ready to participate. We can’t talk about situations that haven’t happened yet.”

Liverpool are still awaiting their first signing of the summer transfer window after being rejected by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil had an emotional message for Zubimendi on the eve of his side’s La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano.

“He is the best signing of the summer,” Alguacil said of Zubimendi. “We knew that, after the year he had, teams were going to come for him.

“Liverpool are a historic, very big team and, seeing all the money they wanted to put on the table, you have to value what it means for Martin to say ‘no’ and stay here.”

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