Bryan Ruiz targeted by Liverpool

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is lining up a £12.5million move for Costa Rican scoring sensation Bryan Ruiz.

Hodgson sees Ruiz, who netted 24 times last season for Dutch champions FC Twente, as the perfect replacement for Fernando Torres if he quits Anfield.

But even if the Spanish star stays put Hodgson is keen to get 24-year-old Ruiz on board.

Hodgson watched him on several occasions last season with a view to signing him for Fulham.

But he would have needed to smash Fulham's transfer record and was forced to concede Ruiz was outside their price range.

Ruiz has seen his value treble since ex-England boss Steve McClaren snapped him up just a year ago for five million euros from Belgian club Ghent.

His goals helped Twente to their first-ever Dutch league crown and earned McClaren a move to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.

McClaren would like to sign Ruiz, who is also interesting Spanish clubs Seville and Villarreal, for a second time but the asking price is too high for the Germans.

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