Liverpool close in on Toure

Liverpool appear have moved quickly to rebuild their defence ahead of next season with reports that they are closing in on a deal for Manchester City defender Kolo Toure.

The Ivorian, who has won the title with both City and Arsenal, is keen to remain in the Premier League and could make the short trip up the M62 when his contract expires in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star have reported that the club will swoop for fellow defenders Tiago Ilori, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Toby Alderwiereld.

Sporting Lisbon are reluctant to lose Ilori, who is valued at around £4 million, though Brendan Rodgers reportedly has the full backing of Liverpool’s owners to pursue the 20 year old.

Papadopoulos would command a much higher fee, thought to be around £12 million, while Alderwiereld, who has been strongly linked with a move to Roma, would cost £8 million.

Elsewhere, Pepe Reina has confirmed that he is happy to see out his contract at Anfield, amid reports linking him with a return to La Liga Champions Barcelona.

The Spanish international, who began his career at the Nou Camp, has three years remaining on his contract at Liverpool, and has dismissed the speculation surrounding his future as ‘nothing serious’.