Reds to rival Arsenal for Chamakh

Liverpool are ready to rival Arsenal in the battle to sign Bordeaux's highly-rated striker Marouane Chamakh.

The Moroccan striker has been the subject of much speculation this season and is keen on a move to the Premier League determined to eager to sign a pre-contract.

Chamakh has long been linked with a move to Arsenal but the Gunners have not followed up their initial interest yet with a firm bid and that has alerted Rafa Benitez.

It is no secret the Liverpool manager wants to add to his strike force and Chamakh, a highly-rated 25-year-old, has ticks in all the right boxes, especially as he is on a Bosman.

He is eager for his future to be sorted out sooner rather than later - preferably during this transfer window - and the Reds are ready to give him a chance in the Premier League.

Chamakh's contract with Bordeaux runs out this summer and he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs during January.

If Liverpool were to be successful in the pursuit for his signature, however, he would not move to Anfield until the end of the current campaign.

One man who is due on board much earlier than that is Maxi Rodriguez and, all things being equal, the Argentine flier should complete his move in the next 24 hours.

Rodriguez, who is relishing the chance to link up with old Atletico Madrid team-mate Fernando Torres, will cost Liverpool £1.5m; he will sign an 18-month contract.

The Reds, meanwhile, are still awaiting official confirmation that Andrea Dossena's move to Napoli and Andriy Voronin's £1.5m switch to Dinamo Moscow have gone through.

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