Liverpool are planning a bid for Newcastle United striker Demba Ba. The Daily Mail says Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers knows Ba, 27, would fit easily into his side's style of play and arrive with a proven goalscoring record in the Barclays Premier League.

Securing the Senegal forward's release from Newcastle should be straightforward, after it emerged a £7million get-out clause in his contract kicks in again in the January transfer window.

Rodgers's budget should extend to that, particularly in light of Liverpool's dire need to take the goalscoring burden off Luis Suarez. Agreeing personal terms with Ba may prove more of a challenge.

When Newcastle tried to extend their £50,000-a-week agreement with Ba, they were stunned by wage demands from the player they dismissed as unrealistic.