Welsh FA grants striker permission to travel to MerseysideManchester City expected to let him leave on free transfer

Craig Bellamy's proposed transfer to Liverpool has moved closer after the Welsh FA granted him permission to leave their international training camp to undergo a medical on Merseyside.

As revealed last week, Kenny Dalglish wants the 32-year-old striker to provide experienced support at Liverpool, providing Manchester City allow him to leave on a free transfer. Bellamy, who played for Liverpool for one season under Rafael Benítez in 2006-07, still has two years remaining on a £95,000-a-week contract at City and his refusal to accept reduced terms elsewhere deterred several Premier League clubs this summer, plus Celtic, another of his former employers.

City, however, are now prepared to let the striker go on a free transfer and with Liverpool willing to offer similar personal terms, Bellamy is expected to become Dalglish's seventh signing of the summer providing he passes a medical.

Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City have also been linked with the forward, who has been training with Gary Speed's Wales squad ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Montenegro and England, but Liverpool has always been Bellamy's preferred destination.