Liverpool in surprise Bellamy link

Liverpool have expressed interest in bringing their former striker Craig Bellamy back to Anfield from Manchester City.

Bellamy spent most of last season on loan at Cardiff City, while Celtic, Everton, Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers are all interested in snapping him up before the transfer window closes.

Bellamy already spent one season at Anfield

If Bellamy arrives at Anfield it could lead to Liverpool accepting an offer from Inter Milan for Dutchman Dirk Kuyt.

The Wales international has been frozen out completely by Roberto Mancini at City but remains at the club on a £95,000- a-week contract. Bellamy’s wage has surprisingly not deterred several Premier League clubs and Celtic from trying to prise the 32-year-old from the Etihad Stadium but Liverpool are willing to offer the striker a lucrative contract providing no transfer fee is involved.

The striker, a boyhood Liverpool fan, spent one season at Anfield in 2006-07 but struggled to make an impact under Rafael Benítez and was sold to West Ham United for £7.5m after 27 appearances and seven goals. He was an unused substitute in the 2007 Champions League final defeat by Milan and was destined for the Anfield exit from the moment he attacked his then team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a supposed team bonding exercise in Portugal.

Meanwhile, Liverpool hope to beat City to 20-year-old Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates, who will cost around £10million. Dalglish is hopeful of completing a deal for the 20 year-old Coates before the end of the month.

Dalglish’s need for further defensive cover increased yesterday after Liverpool allowed Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos to join Wolfsburg on a free transfer.

The 6ft 6 in Coates impressed during Uruguay’s victorious Copa America campaign and has been monitored by Manchester City prior to their capture of Stefan Savic. Currently with Nacional, Coates was due to switch to Brazilian side Sao Paulo, only for the Uruguayan side to pull out of the deal when his profile, and price, increased.

Manchester City, Juventus, Lazio, Porto and Benfica have all shown an interest in Luis Suarez’s highly-rated compatriot.

Coates has said he would prefer to join a club in the Champions League and Liverpool hope the chance to team up with Suarez will persuade him to come to Anfield.

Tags: Anfield, Copa America, Craig Bellaym, Dirk Kuyt, Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool, manchester city, Nacional, roberto mancini, Sebastian Coates, Uruguay, Wales