Reds chase striking trio

Rafa Benitez will make an instant splash in the transfer window, with Premier League strikers Emile Heskey, Kenwyne Jones and Roque Santa Cruz topping his wish list.

The Liverpool boss has been given the go-ahead to bring in two new players as soon as the window opens on January 1, and his main priority is a forward to take the pressure off Fernando Torres.

The Spanish coach has targeted one of the experienced trio, and also has young Spanish star Juan Manuel Mata on his short-list, as he looks for the reinforcements he hopes can help salvage something from Liverpool's season.

Benitez has been told he can spend the money he raises from selling fringe players.

And he wants a striker in immediately, which means he will swing into action as soon as the New Year dawns.

Heskey is his prime target, but O'Neill would prefer to sell his striker to Chelsea, and that deal could go through swiftly, with the London club hoping to bring the England striker in as cover for Didier Drogba, who will be away for much of January on African Cup of Nations duty.

If Liverpool lose out on Heskey - and that seems likely with Chelsea ready to spend upwards of £5million on the 30 year old - then he will put all his efforts into landing one of the next three on his list.

The Reds manager though, knows that the asking price for all three will be prohibitive, and that could stop him from making a deal unless he can get decent money from his surplus to requirement players in the January sales.

Mata is a highly regarded full Spanish international who, at the age of 21, has already shown his immense promise with Valencia in La Liga, but that has catapulted his price towards the £20million mark, which is far too expensive for Liverpool.

Santa Cruz too, could be priced out of Liverpool's league. The Paraguay international centre forward has made only eight appearances since signing for Manchester City for £17.5million, but the Eastlands club will not want to let him go to a direct rival unless the money is right.

Jones is more in Liverpool's price range, and he could be available in January, after relations with his Sunderland boss Steve Bruce have become strained in recent months.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has scored 23 goals in 76 Premier League games for Sunderland, and would be available at around the £10million mark.

Stoke have been pursuing the striker too, but Jones would be keener to make the move to Anfield, and he could become a more likely option for Benitez if his other targets prove unattainable.

When Benitez has determined which striker he will sign, he will then swiftly turn his attentions to bringing in a wide player who can help provide the threat that has been missing this season.

He has looked at Erik Huseklepp a 25 year old Norwegian international who can also fill in as a striker, after the Brann Bergen midfielder starred against Scotland for his country recently.

He has also looked at Celtic's Aiden McGeady, Arda Turan, the captain of Galatasaray who has 34 caps for Turkey and Eljero Elia a 22, Dutch international who plays for Hamburg.

Benitez will wait to see how much money he has left after trying to sell at least four players in the window, but he is determined to also bring in a winger as well as a striker to bolster his squad as he looks to markedly improve performances in the New Year.

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