Liverpool are close to making Kolo Touré their first summer signing as part of Brendan Rodgers' plans to add experience to a central defence without Jamie Carragher.

The 32-year-old is available on a free transfer when his four-year contract with Manchester City expires next month and he has not been offered an extension, having fallen down the pecking order under the former manager Roberto Mancini.

Touré wants to stay in English football, ideally in the north-west where his children are settled at school, and has been offered the ideal solution by Rodgers.

A deal is believed to have been agreed in principle with Touré, who is in the United States for City's end-of-season tour and will undergo a medical on his return.

The manager has several targets in mind with Kyriakos Papadopoulos of Schalke the prime target, Ajax's Toby Alderweireld under consideration and the Lille left-back, Lucas Digne, also a possibility.

Source: The Guardian