Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is making Goran Pandev his No1 January target.

The People says the highly-rated 26-year-old Macedonian has become the number one priority in the January window, with Benitez desperate to increase Liverpool's firepower in the second half of the season.

Pandev has won a release from his Lazio contract and is now a free agent.

That has alerted Liverpool who were already on the striker's trail - and Benitez has urged managing director Christian Purslow to find the cash to finance a deal with the hitman wanting around £95,000-a week.