Liverpool are ready to offer Jermaine Pennant in their bid for Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Bentley.

The People says Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is confident of beating off competition from Atletico Madrid to land Bentley in a sensational £12million swoop.

But the blow for Rovers of losing a player of Bentley's stature to their north-west rivals could well be softened by the inclusion of Liverpool wide-boy Pennant in any deal.