David Villa, the leading goalscorer in the European Championship finals, has indicated that Liverpool would be his preferred destination this summer if the Merseyside club’s American owners can find the minimum £25 million or so that would be needed to prise him from Valencia.

The Spain forward has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he was keen to register his interest in moving to Anfield. “Liverpool have a Spanish coach [Rafael BenÍtez] and I have lots of friends there,” the 26-year-old said.

BenÍtez is understood to have explored the possibility of such a move, but it would appear a remote prospect at a time when Liverpool are struggling to meet Aston Villa’s £20 million valuation of Gareth Barry. He hopes to raise £10 million by selling Peter Crouch to Portsmouth this week, but it is unlikely that the club’s owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, would sanction a club-record bid for Villa.