Ryan Babel's Anfield future is still in doubt with Arsenal set to enter the race for the player's signature.
Despite approaches by ambitious Birmingham City, Arséne Wenger hoping to trump Alex McLeish and convince the 23-year-old, who has previously spoken highly of the Gunners, to move to the capital.
With Rafael Benitez refusing to relent on his £11 million asking price for the out-of-favour Dutchman, Wenger could use 19-year-old Fran Merida as a makeweight.
The Spanish prodigy has stalled on extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium beyond the end of the season with contract negotiations at a stumbling block amidst interest from his homeland with Atletico Madrid leading the chase.
Benitez is hoping the sale of Babel will pave the way to resurrect his bid to bring Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to Anfield, despite Steve Bruce blasting the Reds and claiming reports in the press have unsettled the player.
Liverpool legend Ian St John has echoed the Black Cats boss's comments and believes that the club's alleged dealings are indirect and embarrassing.
He said: It's ridiculous. I hate when Liverpool get invovled in this kind of thing.
"What is stopping Rafa phoning up Bruce for a one-to-one or our chief executive to their chief exec and saying: 'What is the position with Kenwyne Jones? Is he for sale? Can we buy him or can we loan him?'
"Bruce said that he's had no contact with Liverpool - it's all about the newspapers. Why are we doing deals, or trying to do deals, through the newspapers? It is utterly stupid.
"It's just one newspaper writing something, another newspaper going, 'Well that's a story' and then they write something else. It's all just speculation. As Bruce said, it's all nonsense."
Meanwhile, midfielder Damien Plessis is reportedly the subject of interest from an unnamed Italian club.
The 21-year-old has failed to stake a claim in the first-team despite an impressive senior debut against Arsenal in April 2008. With only one appearance to his name this season, the Frenchman is expected to secure a move away from Merseyside before the close of the January transfer window.
A deal is expected to be tabled shortly by Plessis's suitors, who watched him play in a reserve team fixture against Manchester City's second string on Thursday.
Quigz_23, Dublin around 2 years, 4 months ago