Liverpool have made a sensational swoop for Portsmouth's £15million-rated Niko Kranjcar.

Manager Rafa Benitez is trying to tie Kranjcar into a deal that has already been agreed for Peter Crouch to move back to the South Coast side this summer from Anfield.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has fixed an £8m fee for Crouch, but Benitez now wants to offer his bean-pole striker plus cash to lure the 23-year-old Croatian away from Fratton Park.

Arsenal have already been linked with a bid for Kranjcar while Redknapp admits it will be hard to keep his star man at the club next season despite the success they have had in the league and the FA Cup triumph.

However, it will be another bit of great business for 'Arry who paid only £3.5 million for him two seasons ago. Portsmouth would want at least £7m in cash plus Crouch for Kranjcar.

Benitez knows he needs to strengthen his squad to challenge in the Premier League next season and sees the talented Kranjcar as the perfect player to bolster his attacking options.

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Redknapp has been playing Kranjcar on the left wing, but Benitez plans to switch him onto the right with Ryan Babel staying on the opposite side.

Having fallen well short of the Premier League title and failing to make the final of the Champions League, Benitez is looking to reshuffle his side with bitpart player Jermaine Pennant one of the names set for the exit door.

One player Benitez will not want to see leave is Xabi Alonso who has told friends he's looking to leave Anfield in the summer with Barcelona and Real Madrid waiting to sign the Spanish international