Rafa Benitez plans to land hitman Kenwyne Jones in a stunning swap with Ryan Babel.
The Liverpool chief hopes to agree a deal with Sunderland as he desperately needs cover for crocked hotshot Fernando Torres.
And it will see out-of-favour Dutchman Babel head for the Stadium of Light.
But Benitez faces a fight with Aston Villa for unsettled Trinidad and Tobago ace Jones, 25.
The Kop boss has been chasing a back-up striker to Torres for months with the Spaniard plagued by injury this season.
That hunt became an urgent priority on Wednesday when Torres damaged a cartilage in the shock FA Cup defeat to Reading.
He needs surgery and will be out for six weeks.
Babel, 23, has been an £11.5million Mersey flop since moving from Ajax 2½ years ago, starting just 24 league games.
Benitez will need some hard bargaining for Jones after Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed he was worth £40m on his day.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill is plotting a £12m move for the Black Cats forward.
Bruce has already knocked back an £11m offer from Birmingham while Stoke are also keen.
The Liverpool chief hopes to agree a deal with Sunderland as he desperately needs cover for crocked hotshot Fernando Torres.
And it will see out-of-favour Dutchman Babel head for the Stadium of Light.
But Benitez faces a fight with Aston Villa for unsettled Trinidad and Tobago ace Jones, 25.
The Kop boss has been chasing a back-up striker to Torres for months with the Spaniard plagued by injury this season.
That hunt became an urgent priority on Wednesday when Torres damaged a cartilage in the shock FA Cup defeat to Reading.
He needs surgery and will be out for six weeks.
Babel, 23, has been an £11.5million Mersey flop since moving from Ajax 2½ years ago, starting just 24 league games.
Benitez will need some hard bargaining for Jones after Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed he was worth £40m on his day.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill is plotting a £12m move for the Black Cats forward.
Bruce has already knocked back an £11m offer from Birmingham while Stoke are also keen.
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