Liverpool prepare shock move for Arsenal target

Liverpool are being linked with a shock move for Inter Milan starlet Davide Santon.

The Italian international defender has struggled to hold down a starting place at Inter Milan under Rafa Benitez, who was sacked earlier today, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be keen on bringing the player to Anfield.

Arsenal have long been linked with the player, with Arsene Wenger keen to add the full back to his crop of emerging young talent at the Emirates.

The Gunners were originally thought to be the favourites in the race for the player's signature, but player agent Renzo Contratto only refereed to Liverpool in recent remarks to an Italian website.

"Are Fiorentina, Genoa, Lazio and Liverpool interested in him? Davide wants to stay at Inter, but he just wants to have more trust," Contratto told fcinternews.it.

However, only last week Contratto hinted that a move to England and the Premier League was a favorable option for the 19-year-old.

"Of course he wants to move to England and he has a number of different options. We have a number of meetings lined up for the coming days with them, we'll know more after that point," he told Goal.com.

The news is a positive for both Liverpool and Arsenal, as is the news that Benitez has departed from the Inter hot seat, leading to speculation over a number of players at the San Siro.

Liverpool have money to spend following the arrival of NESV as owners at the club, and the €9.5 million valuation is thought to be well within Hodgson's budget as he considers potential replacements for Glen Johnson and Paul Konchesky.

Arsenal are also thought to have cash at their disposal following the announcement of bumper profits at the Emirates last year, and Wenger could turn to Santon as attack-minded defensive cover on either flank.

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