Liverpool in queue for Ireland?

This snowy saturday, with the Fulham game being canceled due to weather conditions, has been a really quiet day for Liverpool transfer rumours.

But one story has surfaced...

Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland has told manager Gerard Houllier that he wants to leave Villa Park in the January transfer window.

Now Anfield, White Hart Lane and Goodison Park bosses apparently form an orderly queue to fight for his signature, Caughtoffside say.

Ireland, 24, joined Villa in the summer as part of the deal that involved James Milner moving to Manchester City.

- He said he wanted to go in January. He said that to his agent. I’m not so convinced about that, said Houllier in an interview with BBC.

- Have I told him to move? No, no, no. Once a player wants to go, he goes. Simple as that.

The Frenchman, who told Ireland to work harder soon after he succeeded Martin O’Neill, left the Irishman out of Villa’s squad for the recent derby with West Brom and has excluded him for Saturday’s match at Wigan.

- There is a discrepancy between what I see in training sometimes and what I see in the games. I told his agent that is his problem, he has got to sort that out,” said Houllier.

- I like the man, I like the player, he has got a skilled touch, he has got an eye for the pass, but he has got to adapt to modern football as well.

However Houllier insisted that Villa will not allow Ireland – valued by City at £8m as part of the Milner transfer – to be sold cheaply.

- I think we will be looking to get the same kind of money back – the club probably would, said the Villa boss.