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Liverpool handed blow in pursuit of St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma
LIVERPOOL look set to be dealt a setback in their pursuit of Kurt Zouma.
The powerful centre-back has been on the Reds' wish list for a while as they seek to strengthen their back four following Jamie Carragher's retirement.
Although they signed Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City, Brendan Rodgers is looking to be active in the window.
Liverpool had originally been encouraged in their pursuit of Zouma, with the players' agent saying that his client would be 'better off being on the bench at a big club like Liverpool'.
However, according to French paper L'Equipe, big-spending Russian side Anzhi appear ready to throw a spanner in the works.
They note that he has been offered a deal he can't refuse after he held talks with the club's president.
A fee of £8.5m looks likely to be enough to capture his signature.
Zouma had also been targeted by Juventus, who are planning to rebuild their title-winning squad.