THE dream of Socceroo Rhys Williams of reaching the English Premier League is edging closer, with Liverpool ramping up their interest in the versatile defender.

The Daily Telegraph has discovered that Williams's management have held informal discussions with the Anfield club about a move for the 23-year-old, who only missed out on the 2010 World Cup through injury.

Though Boro have been determined to hang on to Williams as they push hard for promotion from the Championship - rejecting a recent $6m offer from Burnley - Liverpool will test their resolve if they decide to offer closer to $10m either in the current transfer window or in the off season.

Williams' ability to play across the defensive line or in midfield, allied to a comfort on the ball belying his age, has alerted a number of Premier League clubs, with Bolton, Newcastle and West Brom all watching his situation.

Bolton failed with a bid of $4.5 million late last year, though their precarious position in the EPL will count heavily against them, while Villa also have eyes for Williams' Australia teammate Brett Holman.

Right back for the Socceroos, Williams has been moved to his preferred position of centreback this season by Boro boss Tony Mowbray.

Williams has hinted heavily that his preference would be to win promotion with Boro and climb to the Premier League that way, though his loyalty will be tested to the limit if the club miss out.

A move to Liverpool would follow in the footsteps of Anfield-based Australians Craig Johnston, Harry Kewell and Brad Jones, with Australian under 17 defender Tom King also at the club.

Holman, meanwhile, is inching closer to a move to England from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, with Villa ever more keen to persuade Alkmaar to release him now for a small fee, rather than wait for the forward to come off contract in June and move for nothing.

In A-League news, Melbourne Victory are believed to be targeting Newcastle centre-half Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who is coming off contract at the end of this season.

Though Victory will formally approach the Jets to notify them of their plans to talk to Topor-Stanley, as A-League protocol demands, they are also prepared to offer out of favour striker Jean Carlos Solorzano as bait for a switch in the transfer window which opens next week.

Officially there can be no transfers between A-League clubs, at least not where a fee is involved, but if both clubs agree to release their respective players it could happen immediately the window opens.

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Originally published as Liverpool ripe for Rhys