Reds to hijack £8m Villa target

Liverpool have joined the race to acquire Aston Villa target, and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Liverpool are now the third team to be interested in the Crotian's services following interest by Aston Villa and Monaco. The £8m midfielder has found it difficult to keep his place in the Tottenham first team, especially after the arrival of Dutch wizard Rafael Van Der Vaart.

With Liverpool the subject of a highly covered takeover bid it is known that should the new owners (possibly NESV) take over, then cash will be made available, although NESV have not disclosed as to how much that will be. Liverpool will however be able to fund the £8m with ease regardless of any takeover and even if nothing materialises.

The Anfield club have not had the best of starts to the season and are most definitely lacking in the creative area, a position that Kranjcar would fill, and add quality to a team that look to be at a loss for ideas in the attacking areas.

Should Liverpool go ahead with their bid for the Tottenham Hotspur playmaker, they will also be competing with Aston Villa where new manager Gerard Houllier, is making the Croatian target top priority for January since the departure of James Milner before his arrival.

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