Liverpool offered chance to sign Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe in January

Liverpool have been given an opportunity to sign former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe in January, according to the Telegraph.

The 32-year-old left the north London club and joined Major League Soccer side Toronto FC last season. He has now set his sights on returning to the Premier League in the ongoing transfer window.

The Reds are in search for a striker in the market as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his side's attacking options. They have now given the chance to sign the England international.

Toronto wants to offload Defoe in January and are hoping to cash in on the player, who is valued to be around £6m. However, the Merseyside club are willing to take him on a six-month loan deal as a stop gap option.

It has been the only major block in Defoe making a switch to Anfield as Liverpool are not willing to sign the player on a permanent transfer, who is almost in the final few years of his career on a permanent deal.

The former Swansea manager has very few options while selecting his strikers this season as summer signing Maro Balotelli has been a flop in Daniel Sturridge's absence. The England international last featured in August and since then has been out of action.

Liverpool will also face competition from Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City, who are in the race to bringing Defoe back to England. The Hoops manager Harry Redknapp is considering only a loan move for his former player.

"You never know (with a move for Defoe). It is a difficult one because of the whole package... We want a couple of loans in," Redknapp explained.

"We are looking for loans. We are not looking to spend money in January. We bought some players in the summer and we have a good squad."

Meanwhile, Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has remained coy over his side's reported interest in signing Defoe this month.

"Sorry to disappoint you but Mr Straight Bat here is going to tell you that when there is something to tell you we will release it. Until deals are actually effectively done it's always dangerous to speak too publicly about them," Pearson told talkSPORT.