Arsenal and Juventus plan moves for Duo

Ryan Babel and Albert Riera could be in line for moves to Arsenal and Juventus respectively.

Liverpool's Barclays Premier League rivals are understood to be considering tabling a bid for Babel after their previous plans were halted when Rafael Benitez offered the 23-year-old a lifeline following his infamous outburst on Twitter.

Birmingham City saw a series of offers rejected in January after they failed to meet the club's vaulation for the Holland international, believed to stand at £10-12million.

Alex McLeish is preparing a fresh bid this summer but there is a strong mutual respect between Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger and Babel, who has continued to hint at his admiration for the club.

"Arsenal use the same sort of system as Ajax did when they won the Champions League in 1996," he said in an interview last year.

"They have a very young team and perhaps they still need a couple of players to get to where they need to be.

"Arsene Wenger is a very smart manager and he'll know exactly who he needs to sign to get his side to that next level.

"They are nearly there and I'm sure it won't be long before they are competing as the best team in the world."

The presence of international team mate Robin van Persie at the Emirates Stadium would also be a key factor in tempting Babel to North London with his Anfield future in doubt following Benitez's departure to Inter Milan.

Meanwhile Juventus have earmarked temperamental Riera for a possible switch to Serie A but the move would be dependent on the sale of Tiago and Fabio Grosso to Atletico Madrid, which is expected to generate €7-8million for the Turin club.

A series of media broadsides during the final third of last season saw Riera, 27, banished from the first team fold by Benitez and failed to negotiate a deal to Spartak Moscow which destroyed his hopes of a place in Spain's World Cup squad.

Bundesliga rivals Hamburg and VfB Stuttgart are also monitoring the former Espanyol winger's situation.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.