LIVERPOOL FC are awaiting Chelsea’s next move after rejecting a swap deal involving Raul Meireles and Yossi Benayoun.

The Stamford Bridge outfit offered around £7million plus former Anfield midfielder Benayoun for Meireles, who worked with current Chelsea manager Andre Villa-Boas at previous club FC Porto.

Meireles was signed by Roy Hodgson for more than £10m last August and was one of Liverpool’s most impressive performers last season.

But the Portugal international was on the bench for Liverpool’s opening two Premier League games before being sidelined by a shoulder injury in last Wednesday’s Carling Cup win at Exeter City.

Benayoun, who spent three years at Anfield before leaving last summer, is surplus to requirements at Chelsea, and was yesterday the subject of an inquiry from Arsenal.

With less than 48 hours until the transfer window closes tomorrow evening, there are likely to be further movements both in and out of Liverpool.

Uruguay international centre-back Sebastian Coates’s £8million move from Nacional will be rubber-stamped once the 20-year-old receives a work permit, a process delayed by yesterday’s Bank Holiday.

And he could yet be joined by Craig Bellamy. Tottenham Hotspur have made a late bid to prise the Welshman to White Hart Lane, but the decision will ultimately rest with the player on whether to make a return to Anfield.

Bolton Wanderers are hoping to push through a move for David Ngog, while both Espanyol and former club FC Copenhagen want Christian Poulsen.

“I’m now at the age where our oldest child is close to school age, so you do consider whether it’s time to return home,” said Poulsen.

“It goes without saying that FC Copenhagen will be the most ideal club for me in Denmark. I won’t close the door on it, but I do like playing abroad.”