Espanyol winger Albert Riera has been told by his club he has 72 hours to finalise his move to Liverpool.

The club's official website appeared to confirm Rafa Benitez's side were in pole position to sign the Spaniard after revealing talks between Espanyol and Liverpool were "going well".

Reports today claimed Liverpool had reached a deal with the Barcelona-based side to sign Riera in an €10million deal, but Espanyol sporting director Paco Herrera insisted there were still some issues to be cleared up before a move could be completed.

"This is a sensitive time, and we need to make sure we reach a solution one way or another," he said.

"Everything is going well and a deal can be reached. The differences we have are ones we can solve and in the next two or three days there has to be a solution because there is no more time."

Yesterday, club president Daniel Sanchez Llibre revealed two unnamed English clubs had bid for the player, with one side offering more money than the other.

The club offering the higher bid is believed to be Everton, but Herrera saidd yesterday that Riera was more interested in joining the side offering the lower bid.

Riera is not the only player apparently set to leave the Estadi Olimpic before the transfer deadline.

Reports suggest Juventus are interested in signing Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta, and the player himself has revealed he is keen on a move away from Espanyol.

"I can't guarantee I'll continue at Montjuic (where Espanyol are based)," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"I have offers which I need to look over with my representatives."

Herrera admitted the club's chances of keeping Zabaleta in Barcelona do not look positive.

"We're waiting to hear from the player in the next few hours and then we'll know his situation," he said.

"From what he has said, we're a little worried there could be something (in his comments), but we'll have to wait and see."