Liverpool are ready to offload the trio of Ryan Babel, Andrei Voronin and Andrea Dossena in order to sign Carlton Cole.

The Daily Mirror reported that Rafa Benitez is hoping to sell the trio to fund his bid for West Ham and England striker, Carlton Cole along with Crystal Palace winger, Victor Moses.

Babel has never quite hit the form he was in back at Ajax Amsterdam while Voronin and Dossena have failed to settle in at the Merseyside club.

With the World Cup coming up in June next year, Benitez knows that the trio who are not getting much playing time will be keen to move.

He said: "We know at this time that we have to manage the squad and try and do some changes in the transfer window.

"Normally, players that are not playing will be looking at other options, especially with a World Cup coming up.

"There has been interest in some of our players."

If Benitez does bring Cole in at Anfield, it will provide some respite for star striker, Fernando Torres who has been soldiering on despite carrying an injury.