Rafa Ready To Pounce In Window

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed his intention to try and snap up a centre-back during the January transfer window.

The Reds pinned all their summer hopes on bringing in Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United, but that high-profile move was scuppered when a Premier League tribunal ruled against it. He eventually joined Real Madrid.

And with Dane Daniel Agger still sidelined by a foot injury, Benitez plans to strengthen his defence next month.

He said: "We have had a problem at centre-back because we could not close the signing of Gabriel Heinze.

"Then Agger got injured. This has forced us to play with Sami Hyypia who is 34 and Jamie Carragher in every game.

"You are looking at two matches per week and with the intensity that the game is played here, it is not easy for them to do it.

"Our idea is to bring in a centre-back, to provide balance to the team in this position."

The Reds have been recently linked with a move for AC Milan's Georgian stopper Kakha Kaladze.