Liverpool are hoping to sign another player before the end of the January transfer window after making an offer of £7million for Italy international Davide Astori.

The Reds have already benefited from their first new addition as Daniel Sturridge scored on his debut to help Liverpool overcome non-league Mansfield and progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Davide Astori
Davide Astori is wanted by Liverpool and Southampton [Reuters]

Now it seems that manager Brendan Rodgers has turned his attention to the club's defence after the Daily Mail reported that Liverpool had made an offer to Cagliari for the centre-back.

The 25-year-old began his career at AC Milan but was unable to force his way into the first team and after two loan spells eventually agreed to join Cagliari in the summer of 2008.

He has since gone on to become a regular in the first team and his consistent performances were rewarded by Italy manager Cesare Prandelli who handed the defender his debut back in 2011 in the 2-0 win over Ukraine.

Astori was also a member of the Italy squad that lost to England in a friendly last year and earlier this summer turned down a big money move to Spartak Moscow after the Russian club had made an offer of £11.9million.

While the Mail believes that Liverpool have already made an offer of £7million, they believe that the Premier League club are well short of the club's valuation, which is said to be around £12m.

It also appears as though Liverpool will be competing with Southampton as the struggling Premier League side have offered £9.5million as they desperately seek a defender to strengthen a defence which has already conceded 37 goals this season.

Southampton managed to persuade Gaston Ramirez to leave Serie A in the summer, but Astori may be tempted by the lure of Liverpool who are still competing in the Europa League and will be hoping to once again qualify for European competition this season.

With Jamie Carragher out of contract in the summer and coming towards the end of his playing career, it could be that Rodgers sees the Italian as a replacement for the veteran centre-back.