Winger is Liverpool loan target

LIVERPOOL are considering a move to bring Atletico Madrid midfielder Maxi Rodriguez to Anfield on a six-month loan.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez is determined to strengthen his squad for the second half of the campaign and is particularly keen to bolster his options on the flanks.

Rodriguez - an Argentine international who is a close friend of Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano - has ticks in all the right boxes, as signing him would not eat into Benitez's budget but would give the manager an injection of quality.

Born in Santa Fe, Rodriguez celebrates his 29th birthday tomorrow and has been an Atletico Madrid player since 2005; he has previously played for Espanyol.

Fast, direct and an excellent crosser of the ball, Rodriguez has found opportunities limited at the Mestalla in recent months and is desperate to play regular first team football, particularly with this being a World Cup year.

He has been linked with a return to his homeland, with Boca Juniors being mentioned as a possible destination, but reports in Spain have confirmed "a Merseyside club" are close to doing a deal for Rodriguez, who will become a free agent in June.

Liverpool were keeping tight-lipped about the deal but Benitez has admitted bringing new faces in during the window is a priority.

"We are working hard and trying to do our jobs, and we'll see if we can do something," he said. "We are looking in the market but it's not easy to find good players available because the majority of them are playing in top sides. But we are trying to find solutions if we can.

"We have some good players who people are interested in because they're not playing too many games, but we have to manage carefully."

Benitez, meanwhile, has promised to field a strong starting line-up against Reading tomorrow, as Liverpool begin their FA Cup campaign at the Madjeski Stadium.

With one of his best days as manager coming in the 2006 final against West Ham, Benitez is determined to experience the feeling of winning the old pot again and is desperate to lead the Reds out at Wembley.

"It's always been important but you know that when you're out of the Champions League, the people think about silverware and the FA Cup is very, very important for us," said Benitez, whose side enjoyed a fruitful festive period. "We want to progress, we want to go as far as we can. We'll have to analyse and consider what to do. We'll see how the players are but maybe we won't change too many."

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