New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is lining up a £12.5million move
for Costa Rican scoring sensation Bryan Ruiz.
Hodgson sees Ruiz, who netted 24 times last season for Dutch
champions FC Twente, as the perfect replacement for Fernando Torres
if he quits Anfield.
But even if the Spanish star stays put Hodgson is keen to get
24-year-old Ruiz on board.
One in, one out? Roy Hodgson has lined up Bryan
Ruiz (right, front) regardless of the future of Fernando
Torres
Hodgson watched him on several occasions last season with a view
to signing him for Fulham.
But he would have needed to smash Fulham’s transfer record and
was forced to concede Ruiz was outside their price range.
Ruiz has seen his value treble since ex-England boss Steve
McClaren snapped him up just a year ago for five million euros from
Belgian club Ghent.
An eye for a player: Roy Hodgson
His goals helped Twente to their first-ever Dutch league crown
and earned McClaren a move to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
McClaren would like to sign Ruiz, who is also interesting
Spanish clubs Seville and Villarreal, for a second time but the
asking price is too high for the Germans.