Liverpool step up pursuit of Dutch ace

Frank Arnesen's first task this summer will be to try to keep Eljero Elia from Liverpool's clutches - as the Hamburg winger is back on their radar.

Arnesen left Chelsea to take up a consultancy role with the Bundesliga side this summer and he is keen on taking a few Blues youngsters with him to Germany.

But it has now emerged that Elia, the tricky Dutch forward, has caught the eye of Kenny Dalglish, who is keen to add some width to his Liverpool midfield.

Stewart Downing and Ashley Young are also targets but the latter appears to be heading to Manchester United while Aston Villa are unlikely to let both wide men go.

Liverpool failed in their bid to land Elia in January as they first proposed a loan with a view to buy option, something that Hamburg were not prepared to do.

But Dalglish is now preparing a summer move for Elia and is ready to make a cash offer. The 24-year-old starred for Holland at last summer's World Cup and Liverpool have monitored him since then and now Arnesen will have to work hard to persuade him to remain in Germany.

Elia moved to Hamburg in 2009 and talkSPORT has learned he would welcome a move to Liverpool.

Source: TalkSport

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