The Reds are reportedly intent on signing both striker David Villa and midfielder Seydou Keita in the January transfer market.

Kenny Dalglish wants to bolster his attacking options by placing an audacious bid for Barcelona and Spain superstar David Villa in January.

The 30 year-old reportedly had a fallout with fellow striker Lionel Messi recently, and Liverpool are hoping to cash in.

The Reds are currently in 6^th position in the Barclays Premier League table, and with 35 million pound man Andy Carroll struggling to find his feet, Dalglish sees Villa as the ideal partner for Luis Suarez.

It will surely take loads of cash to tempt the Catalans to sell Villa, but owner John Henry may just be ready to take the gamble.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola though,  played down any news of a rift between Villa and Messi, saying that the former is one of the nicest persons there is.

He said: ‘It is impossible to be an enemy of David, he is too nice a person.

‘He is generous both in the way he plays football and also in his personal life. It is impossible not to get on well with him.’

Villa, who is Spain’s all-time highest goalscorer, will win his 81^st cap against England at Wembley this Saturday.

Liverpool are said to be interested in signing Seydou Keita from the Nou Camp, but face stiff competitions from Russian money-bags Anzhi Makhachkala.

Keita’s career at Barca started off slowly following a move from Sevilla, but the Mali international has been on top form this season. Dalglish has shown his interest in signing the 31 year-old, and Keita is flattered to the core.

In a recent interview, he refused to rule out a move to Anfield and admitted that playing in the Premier League was a very alluring prospect.

‘Liverpool is a great club, it is fantastic to hear that they are interested in me, but you know how I feel about Barcelona’, said Keita.

‘However we are in football and nothing is an absolute, so let’s wait until the end of the season.

‘I want to play more games than last season, playing regularly in a winning team is very good for the player, but the Premier League is very attractive and exicting for any player.