Liverpool have again emerged as favorites to land £8m-rated midfielder Stephen Ireland from Manchester City.

Ireland has been on the fringes of the City first team since Roberto Mancini arrived and is unhappy with the lack of chances at Eastlands.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Liverpool, as well as Merseyside rivals Everton, are reportedly monitoring the situation.

The same paper claims that Rafael Benitez will make his move for Ireland in the summer, if still in charge at Anfield.

A product of the Cobh Ramblers in County Cork, Ireland joined the Citizens Academy as a teenager back in 2001.

Graduating to the senior side in 2005, Ireland has gone on to make over 135 league appearances for the Premier League side, scoring 16 goals in the process.