2014 World Cup: Liverpool manager Rodgers puts Andre Ayew interest on hold as he goes in hunt for Chelsea's Hazard

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

Follow Akyereko on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial

English titans Liverpool have reportedly maintained an interest in Ghana winger Andre Ayew for the past two seasons but the Reds manager Brendan Rodgers now looks obviously in Chelsea star Eden Hazard.

The Anfield giants nearly signed the 24-year-old from French side Olympique Marseille before the start of the 2013/14 season but could not reach a fee with the nine-time Ligue 1 title winners.

Following an impressive season, Liverpool were expected to re-ignite their interest to bring the influential steamroller to English Premier League but manager Rodgers's attention is drifting towards Belgian star Eden Hazard who has been linked with a move away from Chelsea following his outburst with Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool will put 12 players including Iago Iaspas and Luis Alberto on transfers and replace them with quality players as they return to the Uefa Champions League.

Rodgers obviously has Ayew on his transfer wishlist but will attempt to sign Hazard, who is more accomplished in the Premier League and Europe, from Chelsea before turning his attention on Andre.

But they could well miss out on the 2011 BBC African Footballer of the Year Award winner as Italian Serie A side Napoli have already made a $16 million bid for the winger though the player has claimed no knowledge of the move.