Five players who should be on the Anfield wish-list if Brendan Rodgers has to replace his prized asset.
As the clamour for Uruguayan goal machine Luis Suarez grows ever greater here are five striker Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers should target if they are unable to keep hold of the Anfield star.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Free of Gonzalo Higuain’s competition the French international had an excellent campaign at the Bernabeu side last term, netting 24 goals in all competitions and providing assists aplenty whilst continuing that fine run of form at the World Cup with the French national team.
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Still only 26 years of age and a player with the physical presence to make a real impact in the Premier League, such a move for Rodgers would be all the more plausible if it was Real Madrid who Suarez left for this summer.
Benzema has over 200 goals to his name for club and country and may be tempted by a move to the English top tier and would probably cost a small portion of the sum Liverpool would acquire from a Suarez sale.
Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich)
Lanky Croatian is surplus to requirements at the Allianz Arena but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a quality performer but seemingly not a player Bayern Munich boss Pep Guaridola values too highly.
The 28 year old has bagged 48 goals in 88 appearances for the Bavarian giants since his move from Wolfsburg and the forward netted twice for Croatia against Cameroon.
Clearly not in the same league as Suarez but could act as a good Premier League target man.
Edinson Cavani (PSG)
Why not replace one Uruguayan with another?
The former Napoli man has the track record to suggest he could fill the Luis Suarez void with aplomb. The 27 year old netted 25 goals last term, despite being unsettled, and scored an astonishing 104 goals in three seasons with Naples and may well jump at the chance to impress at Anfield.
Often used in a wide role at the Parc des Princes, due chiefly to the presence of Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cavani may well be keen to follow his fellow countryman to England.
Has the strength to impress in the overly physical Premier League environment but has the touch, control and lethal finishing ability that would make him a 20-25 goal a season candidate.
Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)
Already a Liverpool target and the adaptable attacker has proven his goal-scoring pedigree with his displays in 2013/14, when he netted 19 goals in 27 La Liga starts.
The Chilean is a player who would suit Brendan Rodgers style of play, comfortable on the ball, speedy across the turf and a quick thinking flair player who can make something out of nothing.
Much like with Benzema, a move for the Nou Camp star could be aided if Suarez were to move to the Catalan giants.
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Perhaps the ideal long term acquisition and a player who could be lured to Liverpool by boss Brendan Rodgers, who is known for his willingness to trust to youth.
The 21 year old Belgian doesn’t appear to have a future at Stamford Bridge and Rodgers knows the west London club well from his time as youth and reserve team coach, his strong relationship with Jose Mourinho could also aid a bid for Lukaku.
The former Anderlecht man had an excellent campaign at Liverpool’s local rivals Everton and could well work well alongside Daniel Sturridge in the Anfield attack.
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