Liverpool 'Face Competition From Italy Over Roque Santa Cruz Transfer'

Roque Santa Cruz will leave Manchester City before the end of the transfer window, but after Liverpool expressed an interest in the striker last week it seems they now face competition from Lazio and Fiorentina.

The Paraguayan is surplus to requirements at Eastlands, and looks set to be excluded from Roberto Mancini's 25-man squad - especially after their signing of Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan.

Roy Hodgson is keen to add another striker to his squad as back-up for injury-prone Fernando Torres, and is thought to have made a preliminary approach for Santa Cruz.

However, in light of the interest from the Reds, both Lazio and Fiorentina from Serie A - as well as Werder Bremen from Germany - are rumoured to have joined the race.

Santa Cruz has said he is happy to remain at City for the foreseeable future, but that could change if he is left out of the streamlined squad for the opening six months of the Premier League season.

West Ham is another club who are said to have made an enquiry about the 29-year-old's availability, but so far City are yet to open formal talks over a transfer fee.