Liverpool preparing a £7.5m bid to sign Fabian Delph in the ongoing January transfer window

Liverpool are reportedly readying a £7.5m bid to sign Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph during the ongoing January transfer window.

According to the Mirror, the Reds have brought forward their plan of signing the midfielder from the summer to January following skipper Steven Gerrard's announcement to leave the Anfield club at the end of the current campaign.

Delph is in the final-year of his contract and can leave his current employers on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Villa have accepted that as they are reluctant to lose a key player in the middle of the season.

But following Gerrard's announcement to move to the MLS, they are bracing themselves for a bid from the Merseyside club, as they seek to bring in a replacement for the midfielder before the end of the season.

The 25-year-old midfielder has impressed with his performances this season, and that has seen him being called up by Roy Hodgson for the England team and Liverpool seem to be big admirers of the Villa man.

With Inter Milan keen on signing Lucas Leiva this month, Liverpool will be keen to add some steel to their midfield in the coming weeks.

Apart from the Anfield club, Premier League rivals Tottenham are keen to bring in the former Leeds United player to White Hart Lane.

Mauricio Pochettino is a big admirer of the midfielder and with reports suggesting a January clear out at Spurs, with the likes of Paulinho and Etienne Capoue linked with moves away from the club, the manager will be keen to bring in a quality replacement and could battle Brendan Rodgers for the signature of Delph.