Tony Mowbray is planning a January move to take Stewart Downing back to Teesside, writes the Sunday People.
And Liverpool are eager to do business to free up funds for a swoop for former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi.
Downing has been a £20million flop at Anfield and Middlesbrough chief Mowbray believes a switch back to the north east would reignite his career.
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers made it clear this week that he wants Downing out during the January transfer window.
Mowbray thinks a return to the club that sold him to Aston Villa three years ago would be the perfect boost for Boro's promotion bid.
A move down to the Championship would seem a backward step for a player still in the England squad but Mowbray is convinced he can lure the 28-year-old back to Boro, initially on loan.
Rodgers is desperate for strikers and Rossi, as well as Ivory Coast hit-man Wilfried Bony, is on his radar.
Liverpool have already spoken to Spanish club Valencia, who may be forced to sell Rossi to ease cash problems.
Rossi has already suffered two knee injuries so Liverpool would seek reassurances about his long-term fitness.
Tottenham have been tracking Rossi and Inter Milan are also monitoring the Italy international.
Vitesse Arnhem striker Bony, top scorer this season in the Dutch league, has been linked with Chelsea but Kop boss Rodgers may yet hijack the deal, even if he brings in Rossi.
Luis Suarez, a massive hit in the Premier League after playing in Holland, is Liverpool's only fit striker so the Anfield chief needs at least two reinforcements up front.
Bony had trials at Anfield as an 18-year-old five years ago but Rafa Benitez decided against handing him a deal.
Chelsea look favourites to sign Bony, who has been capped 13 times by the Ivory Coast, but Liverpool may steal in if the Londoners are sidetracked by their move for Atletico Madrid sensation Radamel Falcao.
Rossi and Bony are not the only strikers on Rodgers's short-list. He is still keen on Newcastle star Demba Ba and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge.
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