Liverpool have asked Sunderland about Lee Cattermole.
The Daily Mail says Liverpool asked about Cattermole's situation while in talks for his Sunderland teammate Jordan Henderson.
The moves are part of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's strategy of buying top English talent, having signed striker Andy Carroll in January for £35m from Newcastle.
Dalglish has already signalled a change of direction at Anfield since succeeding Roy Hodgson by handing first-team opportunities to 17-year-old Jack Robinson, 18-year-old John Flanagan and 21-year-old Martin Kelly, and giving a new deal to Jay Spearing, 22.