Liverpool to make shock Parker swoop

Liverpool are set to make an £8million bid for Scott Parker.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson has pinpointed the West Ham midfielder as the man to replace Javier ­Mascherano, who is set to join Inter Milan in a £20m deal.

The Hammers ­hierarchy have ­insisted that Parker is the one player they will not sell this summer.

"Not at any price," said chairman David ­Sullivan.

That has not stopped Tottenham declaring their interest.

And just as Liverpool allowed Spurs and ­Arsenal to make the running in the ­pursuit of Joe Cole, before stealing their thunder, they are poised to strike again with Parker. The key issue is whether West Ham will relax their tough stance.

The Upton Park club have been boosted by the news that Robert Green wants to stay and they are likely to start talks soon with ­Matthew Upson about a new contract.

Upson's current deal ­expires at the end of this season and he would ­qualify for a free transfer but West Ham want to avoid that scenario.

Meanwhile, Hodgson's attempts to land Christian Poulsen have been given a boost after the Juventus midfielder's agent said it was an "honour" to be linked with Liverpool.

Joern Bonnesen, his agent, said: "There has not been any contact and there is not much more that can be said ­until there has been, but we know there's an interest from them."

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