Real Madrid plot January move for Liverpool FC's Daniel Agger

"Agger's a player we have been looking at for a long time, and it's likely we will bid for him in January. He's a world class player and would fit into our system without a doubt. What we need at the moment is a defender and striker - and Agger is top of our list."

Sanchez also admitted Real would have already moved in had they not spent the summer trying to resolve the future of Manchester City-bound Robinho.

"We already had plans about buying Agger this summer, along with some other players," said Sanchez. "But the Robinho situation took so much attention and demanded so many resources from the club that we had to drop the plans about putting in a bid for him and the others we had in mind."

Liverpool are acutely aware of the delicate nature of Agger's contract situation. The player, who arrived at Anfield from Brondby for £5.8million in January 2006, enters the final 18 months of his present deal in the New Year, after which he will be able to buy out the remainder under the Webster Ruling.

Anfield manager Rafael Benitez has already intimated the Denmark international will be offered a new deal, but news of Madrid's interest could persuade Agger to hold fire before extending his Liverpool career.

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For now, though, the centre-back is content to stay and fight to regain his place in Benitez's side.

"Of course there are things that Benitez was not satisfied with after Liege," said Agger.

"We didn't play a good match, but it is a big lie to say we had an argument. I certainly hope it is only football reasons why I am not playing.

"I have no problem in this club. He has just said that the team is playing very well, and that is why I am not playing.

"I want to stay here and fight for my place in the squad. I'm not satisfied with the fact that I'm not playing but I have to cope and accept it. I'm happy at Liverpool."

Meanwhile, Robbie Keane believes he and Fernando Torres are showing signs of forging a fruitful striking partnership for Liverpool.

Keane finally opened his account for his new club with the opener in the 3-1 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, swivelling to fire home a fine Torres cross.

And the Republic of Ireland striker said: "It takes time for things to come together, but I think you're starting to see the signs now of me and Fernando working hard together and things are happening.

"He set me up with a great ball, and maybe he was paying me back for the one I gave him against Everton on Saturday."

Keane's goal came in his 11th appearance for Liverpool, and 686 minutes of waiting.

"The first goal is always important, it's always nice to get it out of the way," he admitted. "It stops people talking about it.

"That's been the most annoying thing, because as a player I haven't been worrying about it. I know it will come, I know I can score goals and I don't get myself down about it. It's nice now that people will stop talking about it and concentrate on the team.

"I didn't change anything when I was going through that dry run, I just kept doing things as I normally would."

His strike prompted an outing for his trademark somersault celebration. And Keane added: "I've dreamt of doing that celebration as a Liverpool player since I was a kid. I haven't done the celebration in a while.

"At Spurs I only did it on special occasions, and this was a special occasion for me with Liverpool, scoring in an important game. It's a special night. I can put it back in the box now."