Russian rebel in Reds link

Liverpool have been linked with a loan move for out-of-favour Zenit St Petersburg midfielder and Russia captain Igor Denisov.

The 28-year-old midfielder angered his club by criticising the huge salaries that Zenit handed to Hulk and Axel Witsel, signed for a combined fee of £72m during the summer.
Zenit reacted by ordering him to play for their youth team, alongside team-mate Alexander Kerzhakov, who backed the outburst.
Denisov told Russian newspaper Sport-Express: "I could understand it if we signed Messi or Iniesta, who are worth any price. Yes, we bought good players who clearly will help Zenit. But they are so much better than others to earn a salary three times better?"
Denisov, who scored the opening goal of the Uefa Cup final against Rangers in 2008, has since been relegated to train with the youth squad and is scheduled to turn out for the reserve/youth team against Locomotiv Moscow tonight.
Arsenal and both Manchester clubs have been alerted to the situation with a loan deal a distinct possibility for the player who has been at Zenit for ten years, but scored only two goals in his last 150 appearances for club and country.