BELLAMY WANTED FOR ROLE IN ITALY

Juventus and Roma are lining up bids to take Craig Bellamy from Liverpool to Serie A next season. Juve are returning to Italy’s top flight following promotion and new manager Claudio Ranieri is believed to be considering a £10million bid to bolster his attack with the striker.

Roma, meanwhile, are set to offer 27-year-old Brazilian winger Alessandro Mancini as part of their attempt to secure Bellamy’s signature. Juventus have already been given a hands-off warning by Rafael Benitez when they eyed a move for Momo Sissoko, who is on the verge of signing an extended contract.

But the Liverpool manager is holding out for a profit on the £6m he paid to trigger Bellamy’s release clause from Blackburn Rovers last summer. Benitez needs the funds from Bellamy’s sale to finance the addition of a regular goalscorer to his squad after the Welshman failed to live up to expectations last season.

On the domestic front West Ham are favourites to land Bellamy, who only scored nine times in all competitions in his first season at Anfield. They are in the hunt for a frontman after number one target Darren Bent refused a move to Upton Park from Charlton last week and are ready to offer £9m.

Scott Carson, meanwhile, is also considering his Anfield future after admitting he needs regular first-team football to enhance his international ambitions. The goalkeeper, who beat the England Under-21 appearance record of Jamie Carragher and Gareth Barry with his 28th cap last night, impressed on loan at Charlton last season despite their relegation. Carson has been targeted by Birmingham City, Sunderland and Middlesbrough as he chases the number one slot which, due to Pepe Reina, is out of his reach at Liverpool.