Liverpool will attempt to secure the signature of the French international defender Philippe Mexes on a free transfer this summer should Kenny Dalglish’s prime defensive target, Gary Cahill, spurn Anfield in favour of Manchester United.
The Scot sees the Bolton defender as the ideal long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher, but knows he would be forced to pay a premium price — as much as £18 million — to see off United, persistent suitors for the 25 year-old, who has become one of the most coveted players in the Premier League.
Should Cahill indicate that he prefers a move to Old Trafford, Liverpool will turn their attentions to Mexes, whose £75,000-a-week contract at Roma expires this summer.
Liverpool's newly-promoted director of football, Damien Comolli, is a long-term admirer of the former Auxerre player and is thought to be confident he can strike a deal despite interest from Arsenal and AC Milan.
Talks over a new deal at Stadio Olimpico have been ongoing for 18 months but Mexes, a cornerstone of the French national side under new manager Laurent Blanc, has thus far failed to agree terms, with Roma’s boardroom engulfed in similar chaos to that which afflicted Liverpool before the arrival, last October, of Fenway Sports Group.
Thomas DiBenedetto, himself an investor in FSG, is expected to complete a takeover of the Serie A side in the coming days after nine months in which the club has been controlled — and half-owned - by UniCredit, the Italian bank.
The American billionaire, though, is unlikely to arrive in time to stop Mexes calling time on seven years in Rome.
The club are unlikely to return to the Champions League next season and face another summer of upheaval, with caretaker manager Vincenzo Montella likely to be replaced and several senior players, including Daniele De Rossi, keen to depart.
The wages Mexes would be able to command at Anfield as a free transfer may tempt him to join Liverpool even if the club fails to qualify for Europe, while it is believed FSG would consider signing a player outside their preferred age bracket — Mexes will be 29 — as he would still be able to command considerable resale value.
FSG are expected to commit substantial funds to Dalglish’s rebuilding project at Anfield once the Scot’s own future is finalised — negotiations are underway on a two-year deal to appoint him as permanent manager — with Comolli stressing earlier this week that he was expecting “a busy summer”.
Dalglish remains keen on signing Charlie Adam, the Blackpool midfielder, while both Ashley Young and Matt Jarvis, of Aston Villa and Wolves, are long-term targets.
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