Craig Bellamy has taken a step closer to making a dramatic return to Liverpool after Manchester City agreed to let him leave for nothing.
City are prepared to negotiate a settlement with Bellamy, covering the remaining 10 months of his £95,000-a-week contract, to get him off their wage bill.
This will clear the way for the Wales striker to return to Anfield on a free transfer, four years after he was sold following a fall-out with manager Rafa Benitez.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is interested in signing Bellamy, but is not prepared to pay a fee for the much-travelled striker, who was dubbed the ‘Nutter with the Putter’ after allegedly hitting team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a row.
A few days later, Bellamy celebrated scoring in a Champions League win over Barcelona in the Nou Camp by mimicking a golf swing.
City are prepared to waive a transfer fee for Bellamy, because boss Roberto Mancini has made it clear he wants rid of him - declaring last week that he would never play for him again.
The Liverpool manager believes Bellamy could provide ideal cover for Luis Suarez, with David Ngog set to join Bolton.
The Reds face competition from Tottenham for the player, but the 32-year-old, who has also been linked with QPR, is understood to prefer a move to Liverpool.
He has already knocked back offers from two of his other former clubs, Celtic and Cardiff, in favour of the Reds.
Liverpool, who have agreed a £7million deal with Uruguayan side Nacional for Uruguay international defender Sebastian Coates, will now wait for Bellamy to agree his pay-off with City before offering him a lucrative one-year deal, with the option of an extension.
Wales manager Gary Speed claims Liverpool would be a great move for Bellamy, who spent last season on loan at Cardiff.
“It’s only natural Craig is going to be linked with top clubs because he is a top player,” he said.
“Liverpool are a fantastic club and if that’s true and it comes off, that would be great. Hopefully by the end of the transfer window things will be sorted out.”
Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani has passed his medical at AC Milan and completed his season-long loan move to the San Siro.
The Italian midfielder will trigger a clause in the loan deal to join Milan permanently for £7million next summer if he plays 25 games for the Rossoneri.
“I’m delighted to have arrived here,’’ he said. “This is a leap in my career. I have come to Milan to do well.”
Posted By David Anderson
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