Reds scuppered in bid for Villa man

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S attempt to sign Emile Heskey looks set to be scuppered by the Anfield credit crunch.

Liverpool manager Benitez is desperate to bolster his strikeforce and is a long-time admirer of England international Heskey.

But the club's current financial climate, with the Spaniard told he must once again wheel and deal in the transfer market in January, has lessened the chances of Heskey returning to Anfield.

Benitez pondered signing Heskey from Wigan Athletic two years ago, but ultimately declined to follow up his initial interest with the striker eventually making a £3.5m switch to Aston Villa.

Heskey has started only seven Premier League games this season and would welcome the opportunity of coming back to Liverpool as he aims to safeguard his place in England's World Cup squad for next summer.

But Villa are unlikely to sell cheaply given the player is contracted to the West Midlands club until July 2012, and manager Martin O'Neill would be loathe to help a direct rival for a top-four place.

The forward, who is 32 next month, spent more than four years at Liverpool in the first half of the decade following a then club record £11million move from Leicester City.

Heskey is currently nursing a groin problem that is likely to rule him out of Liverpool's trip to Villa Park next Tuesday.

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