Mario Balotelli and Radamel Falcao are among five Liverpool striker targets…
SEE ALSO: Best Premier League players 2014/15
On Wednesday several sources, including the Daily Express, reported news of the Reds making a £17.5m offer for the former Manchester City forward, as manager Brendan Rodgers continues his hunt for a world class centre forward to replace the departed Luis Suarez.
CaughtOffside takes a look at five striker’s that could fill the void left by the Uruguayan superstar at Anfield, as well as their respective pros and cons:
5) Samuel Eto’o (Free Agent)
Pros: An experienced stop-gap player who would be useful short-term addition for Liverpool while they look at other targets, as Chelsea did last season. A proven finisher who is calm in possession, he could be a decent impact player.
Cons: Will be 34 in March and is well past is best. Having already signed Rickie Lambert, Liverpool do not need another aging striker who can come off the bench, they need a world class centre forward who can replace Suarez.
Linked By: Daily Mirror
Evaluation: Last resort
4) Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina)
Pros: A regular scorer in both Serie A and La Liga, and would give Liverpool fans an opportunity to mock a Manchester United transfer blunder if he carried that success forward to Anfield. At 27, he is in the prime years of his career.
Cons: Unproven at Premier League level, having scored just one goal in three years with United – a period which included a loan spell at Newcastle. Has struggled with injuries in recent season, and could be a liability during a packed schedule.
Linked By: Liverpool Echo
Evaluation: Probably not worth the risk
3) Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)
Pros: A player with world class potential who could be available at a decent price due to AC Milan’s recent issues, which were compounded by last year’s eighth place Serie A finish and missing out on a place in Europe.
Cons: His bad-boy reputation would be an issue that Brendan Rodgers would have to allow for. The Italian’s goal record is also not as formidable as you might think, with the 24-year-old having netted 60 goals in 134 appearances for his last two clubs.
Linked By: Daily Express
Evaluation: Could work at the right price
2) Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco)
Pros: The Colombian is a proven goalscorer across Europe, having netted regularly for Porto, Atletico Madrid and current side Monaco. A player who is desperate to prove he deserves his reputation at one of the world’s top clubs.
Cons: Matching his incredible wage packet would be near impossible for most teams, while Monaco are also keen to keep their star player having already lost James Rodriguez to Real Madrid earlier this summer.
Linked By: The Guardian
Evaluation: An unlikely dream
1) Edinson Cavani (PSG)
Pros: A star player for Napoli who has a point to prove after being made to play second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG. Could be available following the French club’s financial issues, and would offer the Reds’ a totally different option.
Cons: Not quite in the same league as his countryman Suarez, and would not be able to fill the same role, just behind a front striker. Would need to play alongside or instead of Daniel Sturridge, distrusting Brendan Rodgers’ preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Linked By: Daily Star
Evaluation: The ideal man if available
SEE MORE:
FIFA 2015 Player Ratings Revealed.
Read more Liverpool FC rumours.
Best young football players in the world!