Liverpool in shock Spurs fight for former Arsenal star

Liverpool are set to battle Totenham Hotspur in January for the signature of Lassana Diarra.

The Real Madrid midfielder is heavily linked with a Santago Bernabeu exit in the opening month of 2011, and Spurs are thought to have joined Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson in the race to sign the player.

Diarra has Premier League experience through his time at Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth. Sold to Madrid for a fee in the region of £20 million, Diarra appears out-of-the frame under Jose Mourinho.

Resigned to a substitutes role with Los Blancos, Liverpool have highlighted the player as someone who could strengthen the Reds' squad at Anfield following a difficult start to the season.

Hodgson is thought to have highlighted 'five or six' players as potential January additions following the arrival of NESV as owners of the club, and Liverpool are expected to move heavily when the window re-opens.

Goal.com reported that both Liverpool and Spurs were interested in the player in August, and the same players are once again chasing the signature.

Sportsvibe now reports that Redknapp has highlighted the player to his board at Tottenham Hotspur, with the club keen to strengthen as they challenge on several fronts this season.

Redknapp has assembled a very competitive squad at White Hart Lane, as emphasised with the win over Liverpool yesterday (Sunday), and the pair are set to battle off the pitch in an effort to sign the £8 million-rated player.