Liverpool close in on Monaco transfer target

Liverpool have moved a step closer to signing Park Chu-Young after the South Korean told Monaco he wants to leave the club.

Roy Hodgson has been keeping tabs on the £6million-rated striker since last season but also faces competition from Birmingham for the 25-year-old.

Both clubs are desperate to break into the lucrative Far East market and know that signing one of the most marketable players in Asia would give them a strong foothold.

Liverpool's sponsors, Chartered Bank,are thought to be extremely keen on the move, while Birmingham's Chinese owner Carson Yeung promised he would bring Asian talent to St Andrews when he bought the club.

And with the pre-season Premier League Asia Trophy potentially being held in South Korea next season that would make a move for Park even more attractive.

The former FC Seoul frontman started all four of South Korea's game in this summer's World Cup, scoring in the 2-2 draw against Nigeria.

And he is desperate to play in the Premier League after seeing international team-mate Park Ji-Sung establish himself with Manchester United.

While Park would prefer a move to Liverpool he wants to be guaranteed first-team football and would prefer to speak to both clubs before making a decision.