Liverpool are ready to up their bid for West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
The Sun says Liverpool will increase their bid for Benayoun to £4.5million - after West Ham pulled the plug on his new contract.
Benayoun is being punished for dithering over signing a new contract after the Reds' unsuccessful £3m bid last week.
He said: "I'm honoured a club like Liverpool is interested in me. I'm contracted to West Ham so we will have to see what happens."
West Ham insist the player has not submitted a formal transfer request, although Benayoun's feelings have been made clear that he fancies a move to Anfield.