Liverpool are considering a surprise move for wantaway Manchester City defender Kolo Toure, according to a report.
The Reds have lost stalwart Jamie Carragher to retirement and the Anfield futures of centre-back pair Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates are uncertain.
Toure is out of contract in the summer and is unlikely to commit to the Citizens, for whom he has played just 19 times this season due to the emergence of Matija Nastasic.
Sky Sports News reports that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who is thought to have a modest £20m summer budget, has identified the 32-year-old as a cheap and experienced solution to his defensive shortage.
The two-time Premier League winner joined City from Arsenal in 2009.