Liverpool are waiting to pounce for Wigan Athletic contract rebel James McCarthy.
The Mirror says the Reds are ready to pounce if they sense the Latics are prepared to cash in on the Ireland international rather than risk losing him at a reduced fee.
There is a long-term Anfield interest in the Glasgow-born youngster, who they tried to sign him from his first club, Hamilton, in 2009.
McCarthy opted for the regular-first team opportunities Wigan were offering but now, at the age of 20, he feels he is approaching the time when he should move on.
Liverpool were content to maintain a mere watching brief on the midfielder, then make a more concrete move in future seasons.
But McCarthy has been in talks with Wigan for more than a month over a new contract, after being promised an improvement on the deal he agreed when he joined the club.
So far, no progress has been made in those discussions, and that has left the Latics thinking about cashing in on a player they value at £15million, and who has also interested Arsenal and Chelsea.
