Liverpool interested in signing Manchester City defender Micah Richards in the summer

Liverpool are reportedly keen to sign Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who is seeking a return to England in the summer after a loan spell at Fiorentina.

According to the Daily Mail, the English defender, who is on-loan at the Serie A club, has rejected an offer of a new contract from the Premier League champions and will move away on a free transfer in the summer.

The defender is keen to return to England following his spell in Italy and there are a host of clubs interested in signing him.

Apart from the Reds, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan are interested in signing the defender. The manager of the latter Roberto Mancini is keen to be reunited with his former player, but Richards' interest to move to the Premier League and not to Italy will dash the hopes of the former Manchester City manager.

Meanwhile, the report claims that the defender is confident of having put his injury troubles behind him and is now looking to join a club where he can feature regularly in the first-team.

However, the 26-year-old defender, who is on-loan with the Italian club has confirmed that he will not sign an extension with the Etihad Stadium outfit, but has not revealed whether his future is at Fiorentina or another club, as his only wish is to be the first choice defender wherever he plays.

"I do feel it is closed now at City for me unless Roberto Mancini got the job and wanted to bring me back in! Wherever I go next, or stay at Fiorentina, I want to be first choice," Richards told the Telegraph.

Despite his imminent departure from City due to lack of playing time, he holds the club very dear and believes that, he could have been the club captain had they not got huge investments from the Middle East.

Richards, who struggled to get any form of game time during the 2013/14 campaign, has admitted that he had the opportunity to join Chelsea and Manchester United in the past, but turned them down due to his loyalty towards his boyhood club.

"If we didn't get the investment we did, I'd probably be captain now," Richards said, as quoted on Sky Sports.

"I probably wouldn't have left. I had a chance to go to Chelsea five years ago, and Manchester United."

"I always enjoyed City. They gave me a chance at such a young age [17]. It was emotional because I was at City for a long time, but someday I'll be back there in some capacity, maybe not coaching, I'd like to scout players," the England international explained.

"I do love City. City fans have always been great to me," Richards concluded.