Liverpool keen on Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Liverpool are weighing up a move to bring Craig Bellamy back to Anfield, but only if Manchester City are willing to let him go on a free transfer.

Bellamy, 32, is under consideration by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish as a back-up to his £58m strikeforce of Luiz Suarez and Andy Carroll.

The Welshman has been told he has no future under manager Roberto Mancini.

Bellamy, who has also recently been linked with Sunderland, is believed to be on a contract worth £95,000 a week.

Liverpool are willing to offer the much-travelled striker - who endured a single frustrating season at Anfield in 2006-2007 when he scored seven goals in 27 appearances - a lucrative deal but it is understood that any significant progress depends on City being willing to hand him a free transfer.

BELLAMY'S PREVIOUS CLUBS

1996-2000: Norwich

2000-01: Coventry

2001-05: Newcastle

2005-05: Celtic (loan)

2005-06: Blackburn

2006-07: Liverpool

2007-09: West Ham

2009-present: Man City

2010-11: Cardiff (loan)

Bellamy was an unused substitute in the 2007 Champions League final against AC Milan in Athens and was involved in an well-publicised incident when he attacked then team-mate Jon Arne Riise with a golf club on a team-bonding exercise before Liverpool met Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Bellamy left Liverpool for West Ham United before enjoying early success under his former Wales boss Mark Hughes at Manchester City.

But he soon fell from favour under Mancini. and spent last season on loan at Cardiff before returning to Eastlands after the Welsh side failed to win promotion from the Championship.

Celtic - where he has also been on loan - have expressed their interest but Bellamy is understood to prefer a move that allows him to stay in the Premier League.