The Liverpool manager has already committed over half of the
money generated by the sale of Javier Mascherano to the signings of
Raul Meireles and Paul Konchesky. And his sights have now turned to
bringing in top-class striking reinforcements.
Peter Crouch had become his No 1 target but it is now clear that
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will not part with the England
striker.
Kenny Dalglish was despatched to watch PSV forward Ola Toivonen
last weeked but there is a feeling that - at the Dutch club's
asking price of £13million - the Swede is over-priced.
Toivonen is still on the club's radar but Hodgson will now focus
on Cole, who has endured a tough start to his West Ham
season.
Hodgson will offer cash plus a couple of players and might even
be prepared to do a deal that would take Ryan Babel to Upton
Park.
Midfielder Lucas is certainly one that would be available to
become a makeweight in any deal.
West Ham have said Cole is not for sale but the News of the
World understands they would take a fee of around
£10million.
Hodgson could get that sort of money together as he has been
given licence to spend the Mascherano fee - in excess of £20m - and
a bit more.
But the Liverpool chief would prefer to offer West Ham a
player-plus-cash deal for the 26-year-old striker. If that was
accepted, Hodgson would have funds to add another player or two to
his squad.
As well as a striker to provide much-needed assistance for
Fernando Torres, Hodgson believes that he needs another midfielder
- especially as they have now reached the demanding group stages of
the Europa League.
That is why he did not countenance a possible sale of Dirk Kuyt,
even though the Dutch player's agent had clearly been busy with his
European contacts.
Liverpool were upset with former Kop boss Rafa Benitez for
unsettling Kuyt.
The Spaniard's original Anfield contract - seen by the News of
the World - included a specific clause, outlawing him from
'directly or indirectly' soliciting Liverppol players for a
six-month period after his departure from the club.
Anfield sources suggest the clause remained even after
he signed a new deal. Kuyt could still yet leave Anfield. It will
not be in this transfer window but Liverpool might be tempted to
sell at the right price in January.
A bid in excess of £10m would certainly test their resolve to
hold on to the Dutchman.
As Argentine midfielder Mascherano was completing the
formalities of his move to Barcelona, Hodgson wasted no time in
beginning his late outlay.
After enquiries about Real Madrd midfielder Mahamadou Diarra
came to nothing, Hodgson turned to 27-year-old defensive midfielder
Meireles, whose arrival from Porto should be rubber-stamped today -
along with the £4m signing of Konchesky from Hodgson's former club
Fulham.
Indeed, Liverpool have confirmed a fee has been agreed for
Meireles with a routine medical set to be completed soon.
