LIVERPOOL FC are closing in on a deal to bolster their defence with a move for Manchester City centre-back Kolo Toure.

Toure is out of contract this summer with City having made no move to offer the Ivory Coast international a new deal.

The 32-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad since appearing in the African Cup of Nations in January, subsequently starting just five Premier League matches.

With Jamie Carragher having retired, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has made strengthening the heart of his defence a priority.

And while the Northern Irishman has confidence in Martin Kelly and Andre Wisdom, he acknowledges the need for a wise head among his squad.

Toure, who has vast Premier League experience having first moved to England at Arsenal in 2002, would meet that criteria and the fact he would not command a fee would not impact on Rodgers' spending power for a more long-term defensive acquisition.

Liverpool are also tracking a number of other centre-backs, with Schalke's 21-year-old Greek defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos at the top of Rodgers' wanted list.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post