Liverpool offer deal to Jovanovic

Liverpool have offered Milan Jovanovic a three-year contract at Anfield as they attempt to beat several Premier League rivals to the signature of the Standard Liege striker.

The Serbia international is out of contract this summer and is seeking a lucrative move abroad, a situation that has alerted Birmingham City and Everton, too, to his availability. Alex McLeish ­reaffirmed his intention to sign a striker after Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round win at Goodison Park and, backed by the new owner Carson Yeung's promise of a £40m January transfer kitty, may tempt Liege to cash in on the 28-year-old this month.

Liverpool have attempted to ward off rival interest by offering Jovanovic a free transfer and personal terms of about £10m over three years. Rafael Benítez cannot compete with Birmingham in the transfer market this month but hopes his club's standing and the possibility of Champions League football next season may sway the former Shakhtar Donetsk and Lokomotiv Moscow forward towards Anfield.

Jovanovic is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement now and Anfield officials have also been in discussions with Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh about a similar deal. The club are keen to remedy this season's failure to provide adequate striking cover for Fernando Torres. Reports at the weekend claimed Jovanovic, who has scored nine goals in 23 appearances for Serbia, is tempted by Liverpool but wary of becoming only a bit-part player under Benitez.

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