http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Liverpool-boss-Roy-Hodgson-is-ready-to-raid-Aston-Villa-to-sign-England-star-Ashley-Young-in-a-15m-Kop-coup-in-the-January-transfer-window-article647489.html[article]
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is ready to raid Aston Villa to sign England star Ashley Young in a major Kop coup in the transfer window.
Hodgson and transfer negotiator Damien Comolli are working on the ambitious project and hope to seal a deal worth £15million for the England winger in January.
Anfield’s new American owners are willing to find the cash for Young as they chase a Champions League place.
Hodgson wants to bring in top-quality recruits and Comolli has identified Young and used his contacts to start work on setting up the swoop for the opening of the window in the New Year.
Young could be persuaded to join the exodus from Villa, who lost James Milner at the start of the campaign and are now under pressure to keep their next star.
Villa will want a big fee for Young but Liverpool sources are quietly confident they can come to an agreement on price, especially if the player indicates that he fancies the move.
Manchester United and Tottenham are also admirers of Young, but Liverpool think they can come up with more cash to tempt him to move to Merseyside.
It would be a massive statement by the new Anfield regime after a lull in their transfer affairs, and the swoop could help their case as they try to scramble towards the top four.
The Reds know signing a player of Young's calibre would give their season fresh impetus and send out a message to current stars such as Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, who will review their futures at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool’s move for Young will be a blow for Villa and former Kop chief Gerard Houllier.
Villa wanted to be a buying club in January but are now under pressure to sell one of their top men before making any moves to strengthen the side.
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