Toure linked with Reds

Yaya Touré could be in line for a move to Liverpool after his agent claimed that the Barcelona midfielder has already agreed a deal to join a Premier League club.

Chelsea and Manchester United have both been in the hunt for the 27-year-old, who has also been linked with a move to Manchester City where he would link up with brother Kolo, as Barcelona continue to eye Cesc Fabregas.

But after Arsenal rejected a £29million bid earlier this week, the La Liga champions have once again turned their attention to Javier Mascherano after failing to lure the Liverpool holding midfielder to Spain last summer.

A swap deal has been mooted with Mascherano, 25, keen to leave Anfield whilst Liverpool are unable to meet Barca's €36million asking price, but Touré's agent, Dimitri Seluk, has remained tight-lipped until the Ivory Coast international returns from the World Cup.

He said: "If everything goes well, Yaya will go to England.

"But we can't talk about definite clubs. We already have a closed deal, and all will be resolved before the World Cup."

Liverpool supporters also claim that managing director Christian Purslow hinted at a deal for Touré was imminent when he was bombarded with phone calls yesterday following Rafael Benitez's departure.

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