Liverpool Plotting Aston Villa Raid

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson's desire to bring some of the best young British talent to Anfield could begin with a double swoop for Aston Villa duo Ashley Young and James Milner, with Dutchman Ryan Babel offered in part exchange.

While Hodgson will work on trying to keep the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at the club, he also knows that he needs to move to fast assemble a stronger squad and give them a decent amount of time to work together.

Reports suggest that he has already homed in on Milner and Young, two players who could also form a part of Fabio Capello's England rebuilding.

Babel has not exactly pulled up any trees since moving to Merseyside in 2007, and Hodgson hopes that by offering Villa a player and around £35m in cash he will be able prise the two young Three Lions away.

Fernando Torres Refuses To Commit To Liverpool As Chelsea Prepare Bid

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has put talks with the club on hold, as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich flies to South Africa to prepare a record-breaking bid.

The Merseyside star has emphasized that he will not enter talks with new manager Roy Hodgson until he has returned from the World Cup and taken a holiday.

He also refused to opportunity to commit his future to Liverpool, telling Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo 'I suppose that when the World Cup finishes I will speak to the people at Liverpool and they will explain to me the real situation of how things are at present, the future of the club,

'And I will talk to the new coach.

'There's time for [Liverpool], but I want to finish the World Cup, go on holiday, as I haven't had a holiday for three years, rest and then there will be time to talk about all of that.

'The situation isn't going to change whether we talk soon or later. Honestly, teams won't be able to do anything until the World Cup has finished. The players here prefer to wait – there is time.'

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reported to have flown out to South Africa, in preparation for what is likely to be a record-breaking deal for the Spain star.

Hodgson will fight to keep Torres at Anfield, though if the final offer comes close to the rumoured sum of £70m, it will be sure to test the new manager's resolve.

Roy Hodgson Ponders Move For Inter Midfielder Rene Krhin

Liverpool is set to move for Inter starlet Rene Krhin, according to La Stampa.

Roy Hodgson likes the player and his good relations with Inter could help him push through a move for the Slovenian midfielder.

Jose Mourinho used Krhin sparingly last season, but he was registered as part of the Champions League squad.

The 20-year-old Khrin hopes for regular action and he could be turned on by the lure of Premier League football.

He has also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, but Hodgson's friendship with Inter chief Massimo Moratti could prove pivotal if negotiations take off.

Liverpool Want Twente Star Bryan Ruiz

Premier League outfit Liverpool is closely monitoring the situation of Costa Rican international Bryan Ruiz, currently under contract with Dutch champions Twente, according to a report in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

The English giants are desperate to add to their ranks in the summer transfer window and newly appointed manager Roy Hodgson supposedly sees the 24-year-old Ruiz as the perfect addition to his squad.

Ruiz joined Twente from Gent in the summer of 2009 and immediately developed into the Tukkers' star player. The tricky forward helped Twente to the Eredivisie title by netting 24 goals in 34 appearances and has since been linked with a move to many a bigger club.

Teams such as Valencia, Sevilla, Wolfsburg and Fulham are all believed to be keeping tabs on the versatile forward. Ruiz has an ongoing contract with Twente, but he has a €15 million release clause in his deal and Liverpool appears to be ready to meet that clause.

Representative Of Liverpool's Javier Mascherano Claims Inter Move Is Possible In Future

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano could make an Inter switch towards the end of the transfer window, claims Italian representative Marco Piccioli, unless Barcelona beat them to it.

Mascherano has been tipped to rejoin Rafael Benitez at Inter, but Spanish reports have linked him with a move to Barcelona.

Inter sports director Marco Branca last week said the club was in no hurry to force a move for the €25 million rated midfielder.

That ambling attitude has left the Blaugrana with a clear sight on the Reds man as they take aim.

But his agent for Italy believes the Milanese club are just biding their time and feels a grainy path could soon become smooth.

"I know that Mascherano and Benitez have a great relationship," Piccioli told Calcionews24.com.

"However, sometimes this is not enough. We will see in future. A deal can only happen towards the last part of the transfer market, that's my vision at least."

Roy Hodgson Hoping To Persuade Joe Cole To Join Liverpool

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is reportedly hoping to convince free agent Joe Cole to join the Merseyside club.

The 28-year-old recently parted ways with Chelsea after his contract at Stamford Bridge came to an end, and he is now free to talk to any club he chooses.

Goal.com UK had previously revealed that Cole has agreed in principle to join the Gunners, despite Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp recently expressing a desire to sign the creative playmaker.

Now The Sun claims the former Fulham manager views the player as an ideal replacement for midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who has joined Cole's former club Chelsea.

Cole had previously been linked with moves away from England, but his agent recently maintained that his client would likely remain in the Premier League - playing for a club that would compete in the Champions League.

'Roy Is Ideal For Liverpool'

Former Blackburn Rovers assistant manager Tony Parkes believes Roy Hodgson is the perfect man to take Liverpool forward.

Parkes was on Hodgson's coaching staff at Ewood Park and claims the former Fulham boss has unfinished business to attend to in English football.

He led Blackburn to a top-six finish in his first full season in charge but parted company with the Lancashire club the following season.

"I think with the players he's got to coach and work with at Liverpool, I think he'll be the ideal manager," said Parkes.

"I think by coming back to this country he's got some unfinished business.

"He's very experienced, he's very determined and you'll find that he doesn't like certain things. His team talks are usually all about his own team and he mentions the opposition very little.

"It's all about how his team will play and he has good knowledge and he's a good tactician and I think the players will enjoy working with him.

"I think when Roy was at Blackburn, when he first came, he got the team buzzing.

"We were second from top at Christmas and he was top of the list for the England manager's job at the time and things were going great for him.

"I do think they [the Blackburn board] sacked him too early.

"I think if they would have carried on with Roy I think he would have got us out of the trouble we were in."

'We Must Improve Attack'

Liverpool fans believe Roy Hodgson should make strengthening our forward line his top priority in the transfer market.

We asked supporters where they felt reinforcements were needed this summer - with 66 per cent stating they want to see signings in attack.

A total of 19 per cent of Kopites think defence is where Hodgson needs to concentrate, with 16 per cent concerned about midfield.

Meanwhile, another of our online polls discovered that 90 per cent of Liverpool fans are behind the introduction of goal-line technology.

Just 10 per cent are in favour of the status quo following a terrible refereeing decision which cost Frank Lampard and England dearly in the World Cup last 16 defeat to Germany.