Reds Set To Swoop For Shawcross

According to the Sunday People Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to sign Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross during the January transfer window. Hodgson is understood to have made signing a promising young defender a priority, but a £10 million valuation could prove to be a stumbling block, given Liverpool's current off-field problems under Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Liverpool could also face competition from Manchester United, who have a 'buy back' agreement with Stoke after selling the defender to the Potters in January 2008.