Kop that! Young set for Anfield

Liverpool have jumped ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.

The Anfield club are expected to announce the permanent appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager within the next 10 days and that will signal the start of an ambitious recruitment process with the addition of Young a top priority.

The 25-year-old is the kind of player Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's American owners, want to sign.

He is versatile, rarely misses games through injury- playing 45 games this season - and would have a sell-on value.

United have also courted Young and they have not given up hope that a serious offer would tempt him to Old Trafford.

But he is more likely to get regular first-team starts at Liverpool, as well as the prospect of European football following Dalglish's side's late run for a Europa League slot.

Although Villa are desperate to keep Young, they are resigned to him leaving at the end of the season.

However, they will not let him leave on the cheap and would be looking for more than double the £9.65million they paid Watford in 2007. A more realistic fee would be closer to £14m.

In pulling out all the stops to land Young, Liverpool have sent a clear message that they will not rest until they have reclaimed their place back from United as the most successful English club.

Stung by United moving to within a point of claiming a record-breaking 19th league title, Liverpool produced their most compelling performance to date under Dalglish on Monday as they trounced Fulham 5-2.

Jamie Carragher hopes it is a sign of things to come and has warned that Liverpool need to start acting for themselves if they are to usurp their fiercest rivals. "We are not a club that wants to rely on others for help to stop United," he said.

"If we want to be seen as the most successful club in the country again, we've got to do it on our own."

Source: Daily Mail

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