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Ronaldinho not on Liverpool's radar - Hodgson

Roy Hodgson insists there is no truth in the rumours linking Liverpool with a move for Ronaldinho © Getty Images

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Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists there is no truth in the rumours linking Ronaldinho with a move to Anfield.

The Reds manager denied speculation linking the Brazilian and Ajax captain Luis Suarez, and although he admitted he was a long-term admirer of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, he insisted there had been no communication between the clubs.

"Ronaldinho and Suarez are players who we have never even thought about but I would think there is not a manager in the Premier League who has not given Ashley Young a thought at some stage or another," said Hodgson.

"But giving a player a thought and thinking, 'this is a good player' and signing him are two vastly different things. I could give you quite a long list of players in the Premier League who I admire and think are very good. But there is no truth in the rumour. If you are asking if there are any negotiations taking place between Aston Villa and Liverpool, then there aren't."

Hodgson also denied claims Glen Johnson would be offloaded in January, and insisted the new owners were looking to build the team long-term, and the club would spend sensibly.

"As far as I am concerned Glen Johnson will be a Liverpool player certainly until the end of his contract and possibly beyond it," he said. "We are very happy with him, he is a top-class player, an England international, so why should we want to lose him? Maybe his agent has other ideas.

"We have got new owners who are working unbelievably hard and putting in enormous hours at the club, both here physically, as they are at the moment, and even when they are in America spending hours studying games and liaising with us here. They are very interested in pushing the club forward but they want to push it forward in the right way. I have been impressed with their thoughts when we have discussed the squad, players and transfers.

"I think clubs in the Premier League are being pushed by fans and mass media to go out and splash money. But, with the notable exception of Manchester City, most others have a slightly different approach and I don't see why we should be any different to that."

Hodgson revealed there were also plans to award midfielder Lucas Leiva a new contract.

"A couple of weeks ago Damien Comolli mentioned to me about him wanting to get in touch with Lucas's agent to discuss a new contract, but I can't quite frankly remember where we are," Hodgson said. "Certainly if you ask me the question 'is Lucas welcome at the club and would we like to keep him?' then the answer is a resounding 'yes'."

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