Atletico Madrid winger Simao Sabrosa admitted he is interested in playing in the Premier League while Liverpool are reported to be planning an £8million bid.

The Portugal international has only a year left on his contract in Spain and has been linked with a move to the Anfield club for many seasons, with a deal failing to materialise.

Rafa Benitez is known as an admirer of the 30-year-old and is currently looking for a winger following his relationship deteriorating with Albert Riera last season.

Liverpool are tipped to make a move after the World Cup and Simao has indicated that he would be open to a move to the Premier League but played down reports.

Simao said: “Nobody has spoken with me in the last days about this subject.

“I only say that some people in Madrid have suggested that Atletico are preparing my sale, but I don’t know too much.

“I have always been interested in playing in the Premier League, but my head is in the World Cup and I have a deal with Atletico.”

Watch this space as I personally believe this deal may materialise.

Simao has been linked with us before on a number of occasions, but with Riera now as good as gone and Benayoun linked with a move away – I really do think we’ll try and make a move for him.

£8million is about right for him, with only one year left on his contract and I don’t think Atletico would mind that for someone who’s going to be turning 31 in less than half a year.

If this does go through, I reckon we’d have good cover for Kuyt, Rodriguez, Jovanovic, and perhaps Benayoun if he does stay. With us obviously needing some more strengthening up front.

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Alberto Aquilani was only able to start 13 games for Liverpool last season. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPA

Alberto Aquilani has insisted he wants to stay at Liverpool and says he feels like he owes the club more after an injury-plagued first season.

The 25-year-old arrived at Anfield last summer in a £20m deal but was not able to make his debut until late October because of an ankle injury he suffered while still at Roma.

Aquilani made just 13 starts for Liverpool last season but finally settled into the starting XI for the last four matches of the campaign.

Despite speculation linking him to a swift return to Italy with Juventus, Aquilani is determined to stay and prove his worth to the manager Rafael Benítez.

"I am staying at Liverpool to make up for many things," he said. "I have finally recovered from my ankle injury. Juve have approached me in the past and now I'm reading of their interest, but I really don't know anything about it," he told the Italian newspaper Leggo.

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Staying put? Pepe Reina is adamant that Fernando Torres will stay at Liverpool amid speculation linking him with a move to Spain Photo: GETTY IMAGES

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Steven Gerrard has plunged his Liverpool future into doubt after saying he will consider his options following the World Cup.

Gerrard is away on England duty with Fabio Capello's squad but has faced questions over a possible summer move in the wake of a disappointing season at Anfield.

The Reds missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League and came seventh in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez's stewardship.

That has led to speculation that the mercurial captain may seek a move elsewhere next season, although he has so far refused to entertain such suggestions despite apparent interest from Real Madrid.

Next best move

But the 29-year-old, who nearly signed for Chelsea in 2004 before a dramatic U-turn, says he will weigh up his future after the tournament in South Africa.

Gerrard said in the Daily Star Sunday: "I won't consider my future or think about what is going to happen to me until after the World Cup.

"After the World Cup you have three or four weeks of holiday to consider what the next best move will be for you."

Despite his admission, Gerrard says he will not let any transfer gossip distract him from the England cause.

England are chasing a first triumph since their solitary victory in 1966 and the Liverpool man revealed speculation ruined his last World Cup.

Chelsea were also said to be interested in recruiting the Merseyside star in 2006 when England battled it out in Germany with then manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

And the Anfield skipper said he would not repeat the errors of four years ago, where he admitted to tracking the talk over his future.

Driven mad

He added: "I fell into a trap four years ago at the last World Cup. I used to go back to my room, read the papers and go on the internet and then I would speak to people at home who were telling me there was stuff going on.

"I knew that Chelsea were very interested because my agent was telling me. Every time I went back to my room I was driving myself mad thinking about whether I should go to Chelsea.

"Mentally it drained me. I don't know if it did not but I won't make that mistake again.

"People around me are under strict instructions not to be talking about my club future or speculation. It's not important now.

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Besian Idrizaj, pictured playing for Liverpool in a friendly against Wrexham in 2006, has died aged 22. Photograph: Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto

Swansea's former Liverpool striker Besian Idrizaj has died aged 22, his agent has confirmed.

Idrizaj, a former Austria Under-21 international, is believed to have suffered a heart attack at his family home in Linz.

A statement from Swansea read: "Swansea City can confirm that the agent of young striker Besian Idrizaj has informed the club that the striker has sadly passed away.

"It is understood that the popular 22-year-old died in his sleep on Friday night while at home with his family in Austria. The exact cause of death has not been confirmed and our thoughts are with his family, friends and team-mates at this time."

Idrizaj, who joined Swansea in August 2009, previously spent three years with Liverpool but failed to make a first-team breakthrough. He had loan spells at Luton and Crystal Palace before moving to play in Germany and Austria.

He underwent extensive tests in 2008 after he twice collapsed during games, but spoke in March of his optimism that his medical problems were behind him.

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