Liverpool could make a shock bid for Nicolas Anelka, after the striker revealed he wants out of Chelsea after being overlooked in favour of Fernando Torres.
The 32-year-old Frenchman Anelka has reportedly grown disillusioned since the arrival of the £50m Spaniard from Liverpool in January and joined Didier Drogba on the bench in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Stoke, with Torres starting as the lone striker.
New Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas could compound Anelka’s situation further with plans to build a new look side around the club’s record signing.
Villas-Boas is understood to be aware of Anelka’s desire to leave the West London club, but Chelsea say the striker has not yet handed in a transfer request.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish may offer Anelka an escape route from Stamford Bridge and the chance to return to the club he joined on a short-term loan deal in 2002.
During his spell at Anfield, Anelka contributed to Liverpool’s late push to come second in the league scoring 5 goals. But then manager Gerard Houllier decided not to offer him a permanent deal in favour of signing his future Bolton teammate, El Hadji Diouf.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are encouraging Dalglish to carry on spending this summer – despite having spent £50m on new signings already – with three more additions to the squad with a new centre-back, a right-winger and a striker on the cards.
Initially this summer, Anelka revealed he was keen to fight for his place in the Blues side but he is now aware of Liverpool’s interest and is seriously considering his options.
Anelka said: “I still have one more year, and I am pleased with the work I’ve done since I came to Chelsea.
“I’m still here. I want to stay on until the end of my contract in one year and after that we will see what happens.
“I have never said I wanted to leave Chelsea. Even if there’s an offer from someone else, I don’t care because I’m seeing out my contract at the club.”
Anelka joined Chelsea from Bolton in January 2008 for £15million and is one of only three players to have won the Premier League with two clubs, having clinched the title as a youngster at Arsenal.
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