Liverpool consider Petrov swoop

Liverpool are considering whether Aston Villa's Stiliyan Petrov could be the ideal replacement should Javier Mascherano seal a move away from Anfield.

Argentine midfielder Mascherano wants to join former manager Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan with new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson seemingly prepared to cash in on one of his biggest assets.

Petrov could be a surprise replacement to perform the holding midfield role after impressing in the position for the last two seasons at Villa Park.

Hodgson will now test Villa's resolve with an offer of around £7 million for the 30-year-old.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill will be reluctant to lose his Bulgarian captain as he already has a small squad and is having to deal with interest for many of his other stars.

O'Neill has accepted an offer from Hodgson for right-back Luke Young, thought to be for £2.5 million.

However, the move may have hit a slight stumbling block as the defender wants a pay-off from the Midlands club as compensation for potentially needing to accept a wage reduction to join Liverpool.

Young currently earns around £40,000 a week at Villa since moving in a £5.5 million deal from Middlesbrough in 2008.

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