Rafa keen to swap Babel for Jones

Rafael Benítez is attempting to set up a swap deal with Sunderland that would result in Ryan Babel and Kenwyne Jones exchanging clubs.

Babel was left out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday's match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium, a decision that baffled the winger and led to him venting his frustration on Twitter, the social-networking website.

By the time Benítez had named his travelling party, however, he was already working on a deal to take Jones to Anfield and allowing Babel to move to Sunderland in return. A permanent deal is the most likely option but a loan swap is also being considered.

The Liverpool manager is in desperate need of reinforcements in attack after the knee injury that has ruled out Fernando Torres for up to six weeks. Jones has fallen out of favour at the Stadium of Light and has been made available for transfer by Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, only 12 months after he was described as "untouchable" by Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman.

At one stage, Sunderland rejected a £16 million offer for Jones from Tottenham Hotspur but there is no longer the same appetite to hold on to the 25-year-old, who has scored six times in 16 appearances in the Barclays Premier League this season. Liverpool are equally willing to sacrifice Babel, 23, who has become little more than a fringe member of Benítez's squad after an £11 million move from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

Babel is keen to play regular first-team football as he seeks to win a place in the Holland squad for the forthcoming World Cup finals in South Africa and Jones is looking to kick-start a career that has stalled in recent months.

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