Rodgers Targets Former Player as Liverpool Prepare Summer Move for Steven Caulker - Report

Liverpool are eyeing a move in signing Cardiff City defender Steven Caulker at the end of the season, according to the Mirror.

The England international joined the Welsh club for a transfer fee of £9m from Tottenham Hotspur last summer. The centre-back has been in impressive form for Cardiff and has started in all their league games this campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are struggling in the top flight football competition as they are fighting to avoid relegation. Cardiff sit 19<sup>th in the league table with 30 points from 35 games and are trailing 17<sup>th place Norwich City by two points.

The report claims Caulker will leave Cardiff if they are relegated this season. Brendan Rodgers has closely worked with the former Spurs defender, while the two were at Swansea City.

The England centre-back spent a season on-loan at the Liberty Stadium. The Northern Irishman is looking to make an approach for Caulker in the summer as he tries to strengthen the Reds's back four.

Liverpool will feature in the Champions League next season and the Merseyside club need to have more depth in their squad. The Anfield club could face competition from the north London side, who have a first option of re-signing their former player.

Tim Sherwood was reportedly interested in bringing Caulker back to White Hart Lane. However, the Spurs boss' future at the club beyond this season remains uncertain as their chairman, Daniel Levy, is set to bring in a new manager in the summer.

This lets Liverpool take a lead in the race to sign Caulker at the end of the season. The same report also claims that Rodgers is looking to bring in another centre-back with Champions League experience.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Smicer has heaped praise on Steven Gerrard. The former Liverpool midfielder is hopeful that the Reds skipper will win the Premier League title this season.

Liverpool are on top of the table with 80 points from 35 matches and are leading second place Chelsea by five points. The two clubs face each other in the title showdown at Anfiled on Sunday.

"I am so glad that he is so close to winning the title and I just hope that they will finish this work and that Liverpool can win the title. He has won everything and [the title] is the only thing that he is missing," Smicer told Liverpool's official website.

"Steven understands the game really well. He has changed his position, but his performances have got even better. I think with age you have to sometimes change your game. People were questioning whether he could still be at the top, but he's proving himself all the time."