Liverpool have made an enquiry for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.
The 27-year-old will be sacrificed by Villa boss Alex McLeish as he attempts to bolster the mid-table side's transfer kitty during the upcoming window.
Speculation over Bent's future has began to mount after injury sidelined him for Villa's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this month yet was photographed shopping in Cambridge on the same day.
His fire power and link-up play with England team mate Stewart Downing, who left Villa last summer, is understood to be the key motivation for Liverpool's Champions League charge.
Kenny Dalglish has been mulling over a move for the well-travelled hit man in light of the club's lack of clinical edge in front of goal, which has resulted in six home draws.
Luis Suarez's goal tally has stalled while Andy Carroll continues to shoulder the burden of the excessive £35million price tag which lured him to Anfield just 11 months prior.
Monday's stalemate with bottom club Blackburn Rovers has prompted Liverpool to signal their intent for Bent, who appears set to leave Villa Park almost a year since his arrival.
In spite of McLeish's doubt that 'anybody' could afford the club's record signing, the former Sunderland man will be allowed to leave for significantly less than his £24million valuation.
But Liverpool face competition from both Fulham and newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers.
Damien Comolli, the Reds' director of football, admitted last January that the club had considered a move for Bent prior to his move to Villa but claimed that his "lone wolf" approach to games would have proved incompatible with striker Fernando Torres, who later joined Chelsea.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Liverpool news
kizito julius, uganda around 4 months, 1 week ago