The determination of Liverpool to keep pace with Manchester United as England’s most successful club has led them to edge in front of their rivals in the race to sign Ashley Young, the Aston Villa winger.
Young enters the final year of his contract next season and though Villa continue to insist publicly that the England player is not for sale, privately they are becoming increasingly resigned to the probability that he will have to be sold this summer.
United had been favourites to capture the 25-year-old’s signature, but Liverpool have moved into pole position thanks to their willingness to offer superior personal terms and Young’s desire to play regular first-team football, which is more likely at Anfield than Old Trafford.
Liverpool are keen to sign two top-class wide players during the next transfer window as Kenny Dalglish — whose appointment as permanent manager is imminent — tries to add strength in depth to his squad and the kind of attacking verve to bring out the best in Andy Carroll.
United are already blessed with several options on the flanks, with Nani being kept out of Mr. Ferguson’s side by Antonio Valencia. With Park Ji Sung having also enhanced his reputation as a big-game player and Ryan Giggs continuing to defy his advancing years, Ferguson’s need for a winger is markedly less pressing.
Villa will hope that the intensity of the rivalry between Liverpool and United will provoke an auction for a player whom they signed from Watford for £9 million in January 2007.
But any hopes of a £20 million sale are likely to be unfulfilled, with neither of the interested clubs willing to spend more than £15 million on Young, who would become available on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.
Liverpool’s resurgence under Dalglish has renewed optimism that they can compete for the best players, with Damien Comolli, the director of football, predicting a busy summer at Anfield as the task of winning the title for the first time since 1990 begins again. Their desire to prove that they can go toe to toe with United will also increase fears at Villa Park that Liverpool could make a double transfer raid, with Stewart Downing also featuring high on Dalglish’s wanted list.
Downing has been linked with Liverpool on several occasions, but the move has never materialised and Villa are keen to tie him down to a new and improved long-term contract.
Dalglish has identified Downing, 26, as another player, like Young, who has the necessary Premier League experience and talent to go straight into his side.
// Tony Barrett
