Roy looking to take the Micah

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is ready to test the resolve of Manchester City and make a move for Micah Richards.

Hodgson is well aware of the need to bolster his Anfield squad and the former Fulham boss is keen on adding British players with the new home-grown player rule coming into force this season.

Eight home-grown players must be named in a squad of 25 and Hodgson is making sure he won’t be left short by the new rule.

Richards was regarded as one of England’s bright young things a few years ago, but he lost his way at Eastlands last term making 23 top-flight appearances and his action could well be limited even more this season with the arrival of Jerome Boateng from Hamburg. He is expected to cement a place at the heart of City’s defence meaning Richards could be tempted to move elsewhere.

Hodgson doesn’t have a huge transfer budget and Richards won’t be allowed to leave on the cheap, but he is keen to bolster the centre of his defence and sees Richards as the ideal recruit. The 22-year-old is believed to favour a central role and Hodgson is confident of persuading Richards his future lies at Anfield.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also believed to be pondering a move for the player who broke into the City team when he was just 17 years old. Redknapp and Hodgson are both confident they can transform Richards into a top-class defender.