Spanish hot-shot David Villa has again been linked with a move to the BPL after his devastating Euro 2008 displays.

Chelsea and Liverpool are the clubs most prominent in the hunt for Villa but the Reds hold a vital advantage – Rafael Benitez and his Spanish Armada which includes Fernando Torres.

“Liverpool and Chelsea are both big clubs with a lot of attraction,” Villa said. “Liverpool have a Spanish coach and I also have a lot of friends there.”

A partnership between ‘El Guaje’ and ‘El Nino’ would be one of the most fearsome in any team – Villa scored 18 goals in 26 league appearances for Los Ches while Torres netted 24 goals in 33 league matches for the Reds.

For Spain, Villa is already enjoying a fruitful partnership with Torres in Austria / Switzerland.

The Valencia striker plundered a hat-trick in his opening game against Russia, with Torres in a star supporting role. Torres then scored the opener against Sweden before Villa went on to hit a last-minute winner. His strike sent his country through to the quarter-finals.

Villa joined Valencia in 2005 and has gone on to score 58 goals in 101 appearances for the club. But his price tag which has increased significantly to US$58m could deter cash-strapped Liverpool.

By Eugene YS Han (espnstar.com)