Reds set to offer Bentley Spurs escape route

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will offer David Bentley an escape route from Tottenham when he bids for the former England international in the January transfer window.

Bentley has fallen out of favour with Spurs boss Harry Redkanpp and now finds himself well down the pecking order, having started just one league game so far this season.

The former Arsenal youth team player enjoyed a successful period in the first team last year while deputising for the inured Aaron Lennon, but has struggled to regain his place since the former Leeds player returned from injury.

The 26-year-old is desperate to secure first team football in a bid to resurrect his faltering career and appears open to a move to Liverpool.

The Anfield club have endured a stuttering start to the season and Hodgson is hoping to turn around the fortune of the club in January when he can bring in his own players.

Hodgson has been promised funds when the transfer window opens and is aware that the club is in desperate need of a right winger, with forward Dirk Kuyt forced to play out wide.

Liverpool believe that a bid in the region of £5 million may well be enough to persuade the White Hart Lane hierarchy to do business in January as Bentley is currently one of the higher earning players in the squad.

Bentley first arrived at Spurs in 2008 in a deal believed to have been worth around £17m, but has struggled to live up to the price tag. With Spurs currently looking to strengthen the squad themselves, Bentley could well be on his way.

Liverpool could face competition from Birmingham who are also interested in the former Blackburn winger and may be prepared to offer as much as £8m for his services.

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