There is growing speculation that Rafa Benitez is preparing a £6million move to bring West Ham midfielder Scott Parker to Anfield in the January transfer window, with Javier Mascherano’s departure to Barcelona looking ever more likely.

With Liverpool’s financial problems by no means a secret, Benitez could see a perfect opportunity to raise some much needed transfer funds by offloading his Argentine midfielder for around £30million and replacing him with £6million Parker.

Parker, now 29, began his career at Charlton Athletic before being tempted by the big money and bright lights of Chelsea in 2004, but failed to hold down a first team place under Jose Mourinho. After two years at Newcastle Utd, he moved to West Ham in 2007.

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