Transfer target in 'showdown talks'

On the day of the very important Everton derby it is claimed that 'super agent' Pini Zahavi has arrived at Anfield, to help overhaul the Liverpool squad.

Now Dalglish and Comolli are prepared to go hunting! And we are today being linked with a few very exciting names ...

Luis Suarez, the £20million-rated Ajax striker, has paved the way for a move to Liverpool, The Mirror reports.

Anfield boss Kenny ­Dalglish is meeting owner John W Henry over the weekend to finalise plans for the final fortnight of the transfer ­window.

And the scene is set for the Uruguay international to ­arrive as Ryan Babel heads out of Merseyside with clubs in England and Germany ­pursuing him.

Suarez shares the same agent as Fernando Torres and has asked him to find out if clubs are interested in ­signing him this month. Liverpool and Tottenham lead the chase, but the ­Spanish-speaking connection at ­Anfield could prove a ­critical attraction.

Read more: Suarez ready to move

The striker has had a meeting with coach Frank de Boer and they accept the moment has arrived for the South ­American to move on if the Amsterdam club get an acceptable offer.

De Boer explained:

- I’ve had a showdown with Luis.

- I wanted to know what his plans are and what the future will bring. Luis is training hard. He told me that if a big club comes in for him now he is ready to talk to them.

And De Boer admitted:

- I’ve a back-up scenario ready.

Clearly, the critical issue will revolve around how much the Anfield owners make available to Dalglish, but Babel looks certain to leave for around £8m.

Fulham and West Ham from the Premier League have declared their interest.

Today Times writer Jonathan Northcroft claims that Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is close to the first 'real' signing of his second spell in charge at Anfield, with Liverpool tabling a bid for Mark van Bommel.

The paper says Liverpool are close to tabling a bid for van Bommel that meets Bayern Munich’s valuation of their defensive midfielder.

Van Bommel, the Holland captain, has been told he can leave Bayern for any club willing to pay €3m (£2.53m) for his services. Liverpool have made such an offer, although they face competition from AC Milan, who have also bid €3m.

A number of other clubs are interested in the 33-year-old but only Liverpool and their Italian rivals have come forward with solid bids.

Van Bommel has long spoken of his desire to play in England, although the lure of AC Milan, who unlike Liverpool can offer Champions League football, is considerable.

 Van Bommel has wanted to leave Bayern since the German giants refused his request for a new two-year contract earlier this season. He has just six months left on his current deal, hence his low price tag.

Another much reported target is Belgian teenage sensation Romelu Lukaku.

His club, Anderlecht have slapped a £25.2 million price tag on the player, the club's general manager has revealed.

In an exclusive interview with Goal.com UK, Herman van Holsbeeck claimed the 'top 15 clubs in the world' are monitoring the 17-year-old striker, with the queue headed by Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Anderlect say Lukaku will not be sold this month but are resigned to losing him in the summer when he will have turned 18 and finished his schooling.

Van Holsbeeck said:

- If there is a team coming with €20m (£16.9m) we will keep him. He has a contract until 2013 but we have the option for two more years.

- Our price will be around €30m (£25.3m). If you ask for between €20m and €30m for a footballer in Europe there are a maximum of 15 teams who can pay this amount. These 15 teams are all interested in Romelu Lukaku but it depends sometimes on what resources the team has at the time. Everybody knows Romelu and everybody wants Romelu but some teams don’t need him at the moment.

Finaly, of today's most important transfer rumours, according to The Daily Express, Liverpool are trying to tempt Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier to part with England winger Stewart Downing.

Kenny Dalglish believes Downing, 26, would give his side much-needed width and pace.

Dalglish’s predecessor, Roy Hodgson, had also been eyeing Villa’s Ashley Young, 25, but it’s Downing who is on a shortlist of possible Kop signings during the transfer window.

Liverpool believe Downing would come cheaper than his Villa Park team-mate at around £10 million.