Reds seek Raul deal for £13.5m

Liverpool have told Juventus they can have Raul Meireles for £13.5million.

Juventus are eyeing up Meireles and have offered Liverpool cash plus Felipe Melo.

The Reds are not interested in Brazil midfielder Melo and have told the Serie A side that they will only consider a straight cash bid.

Kopites will be alarmed that Liverpool are prepared to cash in on Meireles less than a year after signing him for £10.7million from Porto.

The club's logic is that they can afford to because they have plenty of cover in midfield.

Kenny Dalglish has just splashed out £20million to sign England midfielder Jordan Henderson and he also wants Blackpool's Charlie Adam.

With Lucas and Steven Gerrard shoo-ins in the middle, this leaves Meireles surplus to requirements along with Christian Poulsen and Alberto Aquilani.

Liverpool have had no success in offloading Poulsen and Aquilani and Meireles is much more marketable after starring in the second half of last season.

Despite being handed a substantial transfer kitty by owners Fenway Sports Group, Dalglish needs to balance his buys with some sales.

Juventus will review their offer and an angry Melo insists he will not be used as a makeweight.

"Let us say that Juve are not respecting me, or at least that's the impression I get," he fumed.

"I'm not just anyone. I'm not a bargaining chip to be used to reach anybody."

Source: Daily Mirror

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