Liverpool bid for Shawcross falls short

Kenny Dalglish has identified Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross as the prime target to fill the centre back vacancy in his new-look Liverpool.

But a £10million bid is likely to fall short with Stoke valuing him at £18m and adopting a policy of buying rather than selling.

Boss Tony Pulis is in talks over moving for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner and Charles Kabore of Marseille.

If Pulis will not budge on Shawcross, 23, Dalglish is expected to look for a compromise with Bolton over Gary Cahill's asking price instead.

Liverpool view £17m as prohibitive but are mindful of Owen Coyle's initial £3.5m offer for striker David Ngog and will try to negotiate.

Birmingham's Scott Dann is the back-up option as Arsenal hesitate over making an offer.

Liverpool now want to offload. AC Milan are expected to offer £7.5m for £10m-rated midfielder Alberto Aquilani this weekend.

Source: Daily Mail

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