Liverpool face being beaten by Southampton for Cagliari defender Davide Astori.

The Daily Mail says Liverpool have made an offer of £7million for Italy international Astori but are likely to miss out to Southampton.

The 25-year-old defender is valued at £12m by his club Cagliari and Southampton have offered £9.5m and hope to strike a deal, with the Saints in particular need of defensive reinforcements after conceding 37 goals in the first half of the Premier League season.