Agger to quit Liverpool

Daniel Agger has dropped a heavy hint he is ready to quit Liverpool, with Juventus ready to offer him the fresh start he feels he may need.

The Italian giants have pinpointed central defence as the key area for strengthening and made Agger their prime target, following a clear signal Liverpool are prepared to let him go.

Despite denials from Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson that they are looking to offload Agger, Wolfsburg sporting director Dieter Hoeness recently revealed they had been offered the cultured centre-back but had decided against making an offer.

Juventus are ready to talk terms, though, and seem certain to pursue their interest, after the £6million signing from Brondby made it clear he is in no mood to remain on the fringes at Anfield.

‘If I’m not playing in the Liverpool team on a regular basis, then I am ready to move on,’ he said. ‘I have only just returned from three months out injured, so I am in no position, at the moment, to say I must be in the side for every game.

‘But once I have made a few appearances and regained full fitness, I would expect to be starting games. If I’m not playing, I can’t see a reason for staying.’

Juventus will take that as their cue for trying to negotiate Agger’s Anfield release during this month’s transfer window, though their hopes may hinge on persuading Schalke, Wolfsburg or Aston Villa to follow up their interest in former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko.

With Agger valued at around £8million, Juventus need the cash to buy him outright this month, though they may try their luck by asking for an initial loan deal, with an understanding it will become permanent at the end of the season.

The likelihood of more transfer activity between Liverpool and Juventus appeared to increase, after it emerged that the Turin club's top talent spotter Fabio Paratici had flown to England for a lunch meeting with Anfield director of football strategy Damien Comolli.

The talks took place last week, with English-speaking Paratici, Juve general manager Giuseppe Marotta's closest aide, believed to have enquired about the availability of Agger and right-back Glen Johnson, as well as the terms of on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani's proposed permanent move to the Stadio Olimpico at the end of the season.