Dalglish linked with move for Ashley Young

Liverpool are planning a considerable spending spree when the transfer window reopens, with Ashley Young thought to be the principal target.

Liverpool made a last-minute effort to sign the Aston Villa forward on the final day of January's transfer window, but Villa were unwilling to sell. However, Villa's hopes of tying Young down to a club-record £80,000 weekly contract evaporated when he announced that he will not extend his contract.

Villa are hoping to attach a £20m price tag to Young, who has notched up eight goals and eight assists for Villa this season, but their position is weakened by the fact that his contract expires at the end of next season, at which point he could depart for free.

Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's caretaker manager, who is currrently negotiating an extension to his own contract, believes that Young's creativity would help bring the best out of new signing Andy Carroll, but he will face tough competition for his signature.

Tottenham are looking to bolster their own Premiership credentials and Manchester United are hoping to recruit a creative midfielder this summer.

The list of targets Dalglish has drawn up with Damian Comolli, Liverpool's director of football, also includes Charlie Adam, the playmaker whom Blackpool managed to cling on to despite Liverpool's advances in January, Wolves winger Matt Jarvis, and Bolton's centre-back Gary Cahill.

Comolli has told fans to expect a "busy summer," and Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, demonstrated their keenness to re-establish Liverpool as title contenders as soon as possible by splashing out on Luis Suarez and Carroll in January.

Source: The Telegraph

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