Reds target City striker

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is apparently considering a move for Manchester City's forgotten man Roque Santa Cruz.

The Anfield manager is desperately trying to bring in more new additions to his failing squad but is having to do so on a shoestring budget but hopes that he could convince Roberto Mancini to sell by offering Eastlands target Yossi Benayoun as bait.

The Daily Mirror reported back in December that Benitez was considering a move for the Paraguayan but nothing came of their interest but having seen the former Blackburn Rovers man consigned to a season of bench warming the Merseyside club believe they could lure the £17.5m man to the club.

Roque Santa Cruz managed just six Premier League starts last term and it seems increasingly likely to be another season of despair at the club unless he can manage to cement an exit. Manchester City are not likely to accept offers for the 28 year old that are not on or around the fee they paid Rovers last summer and that kind of bid just isn't likely to come from Liverpool.

However Roberto Mancini is known to be a fan of Israeli international Yossi Benayoun and given that Rafa Benitez doesn't appear to see the attacking midfielder as part of his first team plans he may be wisely used as a bargaining chip in any potential deal.

Liverpool urgently need new attacking options to help carry the burden so heavily placed on Fernando Torres and even though the club has signed Milan Jovanovic on a free transfer the club could well do with yet more firepower and the potential partnership of Santa Cruz and the Spanish goal machine would surely be one that could work well.

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