Liverpool target Hamburg's Elia

Liverpool are poised to move for Dutch international Eljero Elia of Hamburg as Roy Hodgson looks to find a striker to take some of the goalscoring burden off Fernando Torres' shoulders.

Elia was part of the Dutch squad at last summer's World Cup finals in South Africa and at 24 years old fits in to Liverpool director of football strategy Damien Comolli's plans of injecting youth in to the squad.

Hodgson would like to add a host of players to his underperforming side though doubts exist over both his future at the club and the new owners' willingness to free up funds during the January transfer window when value and depth is absent from the market.

Elia would cost upwards of £10m and Hodgson would need to raise at least part of that through sales before New England Sports Ventures would sanction the move. Ryan Babel is almost certain to leave should Liverpool receive an acceptable offer with Birmingham City set to renew their interest in the Dutchman.

Should the move break down Liverpool are also monitoring Ivory Coast international Lacina Traoré, Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge and Ajax forward Luis Suarez.

Liverpool's bid for Elia might be compromised, however, by Manchester City. Roberto Mancini is poised to lavish around £30m on Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, with the German club intent on spending some of that windfall on a move for Elia.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.