REDS REVEAL DUDEK INTEREST

LIVERPOOL have confirmed their interest in Polish shot-stopper Jerzy Dudek and the revelation will come as a major blow to current Anfield number one Sander Westerveld.

Reports emanating from Holland had suggested that The Reds were keen to sign the £7 million rated Polish international and a Liverpool spokesman admitted to the club's official website: "We are in discussions with Feyenoord about the player."

The future of Dutch international Westerveld, who has come under fire for some high-profile errors, now seems to hang in the balance despite the player's insistence that he would fight for his Anfield place.

"Even if Dudek thinks he is coming to my club he had better think twice. I am not a player who is prepared to sit on the bench.

"Anyway I am so happy here that I have asked my agent to start new negotiations," confirmed the Dutch number two.

Dudek, 28, had previously been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona only to see moves fall through but it appears he may now join the Uefa cup holders, with Liverpool likely to seal any deal before the Champions League deadline on Friday.

The main stumbling block could be the fee for the Pole with Liverpool looking to offer £4 million and the Rotterdam club refusing to budge from their original £6 million valuation. 

"When the deal with Arsenal collapsed Feyenoord claimed that they wanted to help Jerzy, but apparently they will only do that if another team pays £6 million for him. And that is not our idea of co-operation. Jerzy would be very disappointed if the deal fell through because he wants to leave and play in the Premiership," explained the player's agent Jan de Zeeuw. 

Meanwhile, Feyenoord are hopeful of signing 26-year-old custodian Gabor Babos as a replacement should Dudek leave.

The Dutch runners-up are reportedly preparing a bid of 10 million Guilders (£2.75 million) for the NAC Breda keeper.

However, NAC technical director Roalant Oltmans has insisted that Breda will not sell the Hungarian international to Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord