Sky Sports revealed earlier this week that Cardiff are in pole position to sign the 33-year-old after Liverpool reluctantly agreed to let Bellamy move on.

Bellamy is understood to want to return to South Wales for personal reasons and the Reds are willing to let the versatile attacker head back to Cardiff for free.

The Wales international has refused to comment on reports that he could rejoin his hometown club and says that he is taking his future ‘day by day’.

“He is 33 and has travelled around the country all his life, so there are compassionate reasons.”

Brendan Rodgers Quotes of the week

However, he now appears to be closing in on a move to Malky Mackay’s side after Rodgers revealed that discussions between the two clubs are ongoing.

Compassion

“We have been in talks with him and Cardiff,” said Rodgers.

“I had a really good meeting with Craig before I moved up here.

“He is a big Liverpool supporter but I also understand his thinking.

“He is 33 and has travelled around the country all his life, so there are compassionate reasons.

“We will look at it but we will wish him all the best and move forward.”

Bellamy spent the 2010/11 season on loan at Cardiff and he scored 11 goals in the Championship before returning for a second spell at Liverpool last summer.

Downing, 28, was an £18million arrival at Anfield last year after Kenny Dalglish lured him to the club from Aston Villa.

From such a lavish acquisition, fans expected more than the two goals and no assists that he returned.

Questions over his morale arose because there were occasions when it was claimed he was overwhelmed by his transfer fee, prompting fans to draw the conclusion he must be a confidence player.

Disappointed

“I seem to be labelled that a lot,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“I seem to be labelled that a lot. I was disappointed with how last season went but I’m not sure I’m a ‘confidence’ player.”

Stewart Downing Quotes of the week

“I was disappointed with how last season went but I’m not sure I’m a ‘confidence’ player.

“I just like to be in the team and doing well. It’s not nice when you are not getting results and we certainly took a lot of stick last season when it wasn’t happening, especially with us new players coming in.”

Downing notched the goal which gave the Reds victory over FC Gomel in Brendan Rodgers’ first competitive game in charge last week.

And while some players may view the Europa League through disparaging eyes, Downing insists Rodgers has stressed the importance of winning games, no matter the competition.

Hungry

He added: “It is the second tier of European competition but it’s certainly one we still want to win.

“Earlier on you don’t know where you are going to be playing but the further on you get, when the Champions League teams drop in, then there are some good sides in the competition.

“The manager has stressed from day one that whatever competition we are in, we go to win it.

“So you can see his mentality, he wants to win every game, he is hungry and his players have got to be the same otherwise you don’t get picked.”

Sky Sports revealed earlier this week that Cardiff are in pole position to sign the 33-year-old after Liverpool reluctantly agreed to let Bellamy move on.

Bellamy is understood to want to return to South Wales for personal reasons and Liverpool are willing to let the versatile attacker head back to Cardiff for free.

Cardiff are reportedly trying to finalise the deal before next week’s opening game of the season against Huddersfield Town, but Bellamy is keeping quiet regarding his future.

“Look, you know me better than to expect me to talk publicly about that,” said Bellamy in the South Wales Echo. “I’ve no immediate plans at the moment. What will be, will be.

“I don’t think too far into the future. At this stage of my career I just have to take things day by day.”

Bellamy spent the 2010/11 season on loan at Cardiff and he scored 11 goals in the Championship before returning for a second spell at Liverpool last summer.

He netted nine times in all competitions for Liverpool, but new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is prepared to let the Wales international join the list of departures from Anfield.