Reds to beef up firepower and other red-hot gossip

(25-08-2010) Liverpool's woeful 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Monday has prompted manager Roy Hodgson to move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. According to reports, the Reds are prepared to offer £6m for the 26-year-old as they attempt to boost their firepower upfront. Elsewhere, Barcelona will offer Liverpool Alexander Hleb and Martin Caceres in part-exchange for star midfielder Javier Mascherano; Everton have been put off Peter Crouch after Tottenham demanded £10m for the England striker; Birmingham have made an improved £9m offer for Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia and are also keen on £2m PSV Eindhoven left-back Carlos Salcido; and Chelsea are eyeing a £8m move for South Korean World Cup star Chu-Young Park, who currently plays for Monaco.