Liverpool Prepare Summer Move for Manchester City Defender Micah Richards - Report

Liverpool are favourites to sign Manchester City right-back Micah Richards in the summer after the player told the management that he is willing to leave the club, according to the Metro.

Richards' career at City has been stunted by a series of injuries which has stopped his ascendancy in the City ranks. The England international has made only 12 starts in all competitions for City this season and is looking for a move out of the club to get more game time.

The defender has been in talks with City over an extension but having received no assurances over his future, he is likely to make his way out of the club, with Liverpool looking to bring the player in as backup for Glen Johnson.

Brendan Rodgers is reportedly a huge fan of the player and will make a £7m bid at the end of the season to bring the exciting right-back to Anfield. Liverpool are currently at the top of the league table and need reinforcements in the summer to build a squad to challenge for the Champions League trophy next season.

It will be a major coup for Rodgers, who is looking to build a team resting on the shoulders of Englishmen with Steven Gerrard leading the lines, followed by the likes of Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and others.

The Reds face Manchester City this weekend in a top of the table clash where the winners will be favourites to lift the Premier League trophy.

Meanwhile Mamadou Sakho has revealed Rodgers' technique to get the best out of his players. The defender has said that the former Swansea man is always active and boosts his players with appreciation based on their performance.

"Rodgers manages to get the maximum out of every player. It's hugely important and not every coach has that charisma," Sakho told LiverpoolFC.com.

"He must keep all the players interested and each time he calls up a player they respond with a performance - like I did at West Ham.

"It's been four months and I haven't played with injury. I had the chance to express myself, and I was there. I felt like a lion before the match. It had been four months and I was hungry to come back strongly," he added.