Liverpool keen to secure Richards deal

Liverpool are hoping to win the race to sign of out-of-favour Manchester City defender Micah Richards, the Express understands.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been linked with the England international though both club’s interest has waned recently, leaving the Reds as the front runners to secure his services.

The 26 year old has been with City his entire career so far notching up one hundred and seventy-nine top flight appearances since breaking into the first team in 2005.

However, he has featured just nine times in the league over the past two seasons with Argentina’s Pablo Zabaletta ahead of him in the pecking order.

Internationally, he has played at senior level just once since October 2010 – a 3-2 friendly defeat to the Netherlands at Wembley in February 2012, when he was selected by former City boss Stuart Pearce in the final game before Roy Hodgson was appointed as the Three Lions’ boss.