Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hasn’t given up hope of a dramatic late swoop to bring in a striker before the transfer deadline closes at 6pm.

The Anfield manager was in talks today with at least five different clubs as he attempted to find back up for star centre forward Fernando Torres.

The Reds are trying to bring German international striker Mario Gomez in on a year long loan, and even though his club Bayern Munich are resistant to any loan deal, Hodgson is continuing to negotiation.

He has also made enquiries about West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Spurs forward Peter Crouch, and is prepared to offer winger Ryan Babel as a makeweight in any deal.

Liverpool have also made discreet enquiries about the possibility of a loan deal for Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, even as the Paraguay striker was in talks with Lazio over a similar move.

Hodgson also hasn’t given up hope entirely about persuading PSV Eindhoven to sell their highly rated centre forward Ola Toivonen, who has already scored six goals this season.

The Sweden international is valued at £12million by his Dutch club, but Liverpool want to pay almost half that figure, after a recommendation by Kenny Dalglish.

The Merseyside club have also made enquiries about young Dutch forward Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, the 21 year old Holland international forward.

He scored a hat trick for his club Utrecht against Celtic in the Europa League, and he is rated highly by his club.

Hodgson is also reported to have made enquiries about his former Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, and he will continue to push until the 6pm deadline in an attempt to bring in the striker he desperately needs.

The Reds boss has already tied up one deal, with Paul Konchesky arriving from Craven Cottage in a £3million deal which includes Anfield youngsters Lauri Dalla Valle and Alexander Kacaniklic going in the other direction, while defender Daniel Ayala has gone on a year long loan to Hull, with Stoke also trying to prise midfielder Lucas out of Anfield.

Carlton Cole and Ryan Babel missed out on massive £10 million moves yesterday in a double deadline day farce.

West Ham's England striker Cole was due to join Liverpool in a stunning deal after the Kop finally made an offer that was acceptable to their struggling rivals.

And Dutchman Babel was even flown by helicopter to London to speak to either West Ham about a swap or Tottenham about a £10 million sale.

But Hammers pulled the plug on the Cole sale and Liverpool called off the Babel move to either West Ham or Spurs with an hour to go before the 6pm cut-off point to leave two clubs, three managers and three clubs in despair.

Cole had been put on red alert to move to Anfield while he was with the England camp. But arguments about the fee and meddling by agents held up the transfer.

Boss Roy Hodgson has wanted Cole for some time - as Mirror Sport revealed - and he was willing to let Babel go to finance the move and make space for him in his squad.

Babel was given the all-clear to leave Liverpool at lunchtime when Tottenham made their cash offer for him, but by the time he was airborne he also had the chance to head for West Ham on loan.

The Dutchman weighed up the choice between fighting for a place in the Spurs side - with all of the competition Harry Redknapp has when they are fit - or join the struggling Hammers.

Babel was tempted by the glamour of Spurs and the challenge of the Champions League, but was also interested by the chance to play every week for Avram Grant's team - and put himself in the shop window.

Liverpool's decision to let him go despite his brief scoring appearance in the Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor made sure that he took off and looked for a new home.

However as Babel landed in London he was told he could not go to either club because Liverpool had failed to push through the deal and he chose to head back by train at the end of a crazy day.

Now Cole knows West Ham were willing to sell him, Babel is also aware that his Liverpool days are numbered - while wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp missed out too.