Liverpool to tie up Hodgson deal

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

Roy Hodgson flies back from the World Cup today, hoping to tie up a deal to become Liverpool's new boss.

The Fulham manager was favourite to succeed Fabio Capello if England had lost yesterday and the Italian was forced to quit.

Hodgson is Liverpool's No.1 target to replace Rafa Benitez and the Anfield board rubber-stamped an official move for him last Friday.

Talks have been held up by Hodgson's role as a BBC TV pundit in South Africa.

But with the experienced boss due back in London this evening, club officials expect to make an official announcement in the next 48 hours.

Liverpool have interviewed several candidates for the job, including Martin O'Neill, Manuel Pellegrini and Alex McLeish, with Reds legend Kenny Dalglish and MD Christian Purslow holding secret meetings over the past three weeks.

But they swiftly settled on Hodgson as the best candidate and have been waiting for him to return to thrash out contract details.

Yossi Benayoun's intended departure to Chelsea should be completed by the end of the week, with the £5million fee added to an initial transfer kitty of £15m.

And with £35m-rated Javier Mascherano agitating for a move, with both Barcelona and Inter Milan interested, Hodgson could have nearly £50m to spend.

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