New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will reportedly attempt to persuade Joe Cole to join the club rather than land at Tottenham.
The former Chelsea midfielder is on the verge of joining Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane but Hodgson is keen to bring him to Anfield to replace Yossi Benayoun who has joined Chelsea.
28-year old Cole fell out of favour with Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge last season and is looking for a club who are hell bent on securing his services and see him as a key player in their squad.
Hodgson believes Coles can be a vital man in his Reds' resurgence but knows he is facing an uphill battle to lure him away from London and Champions League football with Spurs.
A Liverpool source said: "Roy knows he faces a tough job in persuading Joe to move north.
"But he sees him as the ideal playmaker to shape a new era at Anfield and hopes the player will be excited by this new challenge."
