When Liverpool lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona in a massive £75million deal, Kop fans were hoping they would replace the feisty Uruguayan with someone of an equal superstar status.
However manager Brendan Rodgers has chosen to spread out his signings by adding more depth, a useful strategy knowing the Reds will be challenging in the Premier League as well as the Champions League this season.
Still, they haven’t signed a quality striker that can share the scoring load with now main man Daniel Sturridge, with Rickie Lambert being a mere Plan B in case their fluid style of play comes unstuck.
Liverpool need another good centre-forward in order to even come close to last year’s finish, and they only have until August 31 to do it.
With that in mind, here are FIVE strikers Liverpool can still sign this summer.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON WILFRIED BONY TO SEE THE FULL LIST!
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Wilfried Bony
Wilfried Bony has a good goal-scoring record wherever he has played. He put 17 goals in his final season at Sparta Prague, and before his move to Swansea banged in 37 in just 36 appearances for Vitesse in the Eredivisie.
And it continued as in his first season of English football, Bony scored 25 goals in all competitions… alerting interest in clubs all over Europe.
Liverpool have already considered a move for the Ivorian, only to be warded off by the £19million price tag. His addition would however give the Reds a different dimension, allowing Sturridge to play a more open role with Bony a strong and direct target man in the box.
Alexandre Lacazette
Lacazette burst into the scene last year for Ligue-1 side Lyon, scoring 22 goals in all competitions to propel his side into fifth in the table.
And he has already started this season with a bang, as he returned from the summer to grab a goal on his first league appearance – albeit a 2-1 loss to Toulouse.
Lyon have valued the 23-year-old at £16million, but as he is still relatively unproven, a purchase this summer could be more of a gamble than a calculated purchase. Yet if he was to be signed and started racking up the goals, £16million would look like peanuts.
Samuel Eto’o
When Samuel Eto’o was linked with a move to Liverpool recently, fans vented on social media at their disapproval of the former Chelsea star playing at the Kop.
However rationally, Eto’o would seem like a rather solid purchase. He is an absolute goal-scoring machine… already accumulating 303 club goals as well as having Premier League experience last year.
Despite playing only 21 league fixtures, Eto’o managed to score nine goals. That’s almost a goal ever other game.
If the Anfield club are able to negotiate his demanding terms, Eto’o could be a very shrewd free transfer for Liverpool this summer.
Mario Balotelli
What made the Reds so special last season was their unpredictability in attack. You have the direct pace and power of Sturridge and the trickery and guile of Suarez… with a few free-kicks from Gerrard either going in or off the head of Martin Skrtel. They were scoring goals from everywhere, but without a player of Suarez’s calibre their attack could become predictable.
Step in Mario Balotelli… although an infamy magnet off the field, the 24-year-old Italian is one of the most talented forwards on the planet.
‘Super Mario’ combines quick feet with speed, power, and a rocket of a shot. The man’s almost got it all… and if Brendan Rodgers can motivate his laziness away, he will have it all.
Liverpool will however need to do some convincing, as AC Milan are extremely reluctant to let Balotelli leave unless a massive offer comes in.
Edinson Cavani
Probably the hardest striker for Liverpool to bring in on this list, Cavani is however the most ideal candidate to fit into Rodgers’ football philosophy.
If you’ve ever seen Cavani play, you’ll know that ‘El Matador’ is a tireless workhorse that will press his opponent’s defenders without end. He holds the ball up well, and his goal output is one of the best in Europe (129 goals in the past four seasons).
The Uruguayan is currently unhappy playing second-fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG, and although the injury to Ibrahimovic could hinder a potential move, Liverpool should do all in their power to sign Cavani if they want to be challenging for the Premier League title come May.
