Liverpool set to challenge Manchester City and Tottenham for Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez

Liverpool are preparing a move for Jay Rodriguez in the summer should the England international be given the green light to play following an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for the major part of 2014.

The Mirror reports that Manchester City and Tottenham are also waiting on the sidelines to hijack Liverpool's move for the forward, who was a revelation for Southampton under the purview of Mauricio Pochettino.

Brendan Rodgers is desperate to strengthen his attack in January and has earmarked Rodriguez as the perfect option for a £20m move in January, with Daniel Sturridge yet to make his much anticipated return.

However, it will be difficult for the clubs to secure a transfer, especially with Southampton currently lying above both Liverpool and Tottenham in the league and only five points behind Manchester City.

Ronald Koeman's team are a prime contender to secure a top four spot, lying seven points above Liverpool and five above Tottenham, with less than 15 games left in the season.

Rodriguez scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, before being sidelined since April which kept him out of the Fifa World Cup in the summer.

Southampton rate Rodriguez highly and are desperate to tie him to a long term contract at St Mary's.

Manchester City, who have already signed Wilfried Bony from Swansea City are in the market to spruce up their attack, especially with James Milner's future at the Etihad under scrutiny.

The midfielder is yet to sign an extension on his contract which expires after the end of the season and Manuel Pellegrini is looking at alternatives to close the gap on Chelsea, who are currently leading the title race by five points.

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Tottenham are struggling to end their trophy drought with the Capital one Cup, having made it to the semi-finals where they will face Chelsea and Sheffield United in the second leg of the semi-finals respectively.

The Reds failed to take advantage in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semfinal at Anfield as the clash against Chelsea ended in a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, Tottenham scraped past Sheffield at White Hart Lane owing to a late penalty from Andros Townsend.