Liverpool prepare swoop for Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen in January

Liverpool are preparing a summer move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen with the Belgian set to leave north London in January, according to the Daily Mail.

The defender has fallen out of favour with manager Mauricio Pochettino and is looking for options in the vicinity in a bid to resurrect his career which has come to a standstill following the appointment of the former Southampton manager.

The former Ajax man's contract with Tottenham expires in 2018 but talks of a new improved deal started earlier in the year before being rescinded. He has been in and out of the squad this season, with Pochettino not entirely convinced by his defensive abilities.

"We are not talking about a new contract. The club has to take the first step. We are now in a busy period, with a lot of games. Talks are often held in periods where there are less games," the Belgian said.

Liverpool, in the meantime, are looking to bolster their defence with Dejan Lovren not living up to expectations thus far. Kolo Toure has come into the squad to replace the former Saints man and Brendan Rodgers is not willing to leave any stone unturned in January to turn the Reds' season around and qualify for the Champions League.

The Reds have failed to cope with the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and an injury to Daniel Sturridge has dried up their goal streams, accentuated by the insipid form of £16m summer signing Mario Balotelli.

The Italian has scored only one league goal thus far but Rodgers is willing to give him a final chance to prove himself, or cut losses in the summer by putting him up for sale.

The Reds are currently ninth in the league after their stalemate with Sunderland on Saturday with an important Champions League game against Basel coming up in midweek, which will decide their qualification into the knockout stages.