Hodgson to rekindle interest in hotshot

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is lining up a £12.5 million bid for Costa Rican striker Bryan Ruiz, according to reports.

Ruiz has been in sensational form for Dutch champions FC Twente, scoring 24 goals during former England manager Steve McClaren's final year in charge of the Eredivisie team.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining Twente last summer for five million euros and, with an overall scoring record of 74 goals in 196 games, his value has trebled in just 12 months.

Former Inter Milan boss Hodgson has been an admirer of Ruiz's for a while and even considered signing him for Fulham last season.

The former Gent player was well out of the Cottagers' price range, though, and, with Fernando Torres' future in the balance, the Reds could give Hodgson the ammunition he needs to land his man.

Hodgson could sign Ruiz even if Torres does stay and look to partner the two while offloading the likes of David Ngog and Ryan Babel.

The Anfield side will face competition from Sevilla and Villarreal, as well as McClaren's new side Vfl Wolfsburg.

The former Middlesbrough man would like to link up with Ruiz for a second time but Wolfsburg are unlikely to be able to meet Twente's demands unless they offload Bosnian Edin Dzeko, who is interesting Manchester City.

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