Liverpool FC Transfer Rumors Part I: Strikers and Forwards

With the Liverpool team in the process of rebuilding, it is expected to be quite busy in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool is currently looking at bolstering all its departments—strike force, wingers/attacking midfielders, central midfielders and defense.

This current piece is part of a four-part series listing players Liverpool has been linked with recently.

With the signings of Carroll and Suarez, Liverpool looks set in the striker department, but they are still expected to go for some kind of reinforcement in this department.  So here is a look at eight strikers Liverpool has been linked with.

Roman Pavlyuchenko

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LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Roman Pavlyuchenko of Spurs celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan at White Hart Lane on November 2, 2010 in London, England.

Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Expected Price: £12-14m

Roman Pavlyuchenko has been linked with Liverpool for a long time now and was rumored to be the target of a deadline day move.

With Redknapp looking for striker options in the transfer market and Pavlyuchenko's public outcry against his manager's decision to leave him out of the squad, he is expected to make a move away from the Spurs this summer.

He is said to be admired by Comolli and may still be a transfer target.

But getting a player whose discontent stemmed from the fact that he did not get enough playing time at Spurs might not be such a good idea, considering Suarez and Carroll would be preferred over the Russian striker.

Plus Pavlyuchenko is already 29, so he also does not fit the age criteria of the new owners.

Sunderland is also rumored to be interested in the striker after the departure of Darren Bent to Villa, so that looks to be a more likely destination for him.

Mario Gomez

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ROME - NOVEMBER 23: Mario Gomez of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between AS Roma and FC Bayern Muenchen at Stadio Olimpico on November 23, 2010 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo

Current Club: Bayern Munich

Expected Price: £25m

Mario Gomez was unsettled at Bayern at the start of the season due to the the lack of first team opportunities since his £30m move from Stuttgart in 2009.

Gomez had been the subject of a loan offer from Liverpool in the summer, which was promptly rejected by Bayern.

However, with the injury to Olic this season, Gomez has become the first-choice striker for Bayern and is the current top scorer in the Bundesliga with 17 goals to his credit.

Liverpool seemed to have cooled off their interest in the striker. However, reports have now emerged that Bayern had rejected offers from both Liverpool and Chelsea in January.

Even though the striker is only 25 years old, Gomez has already represented his national team more than 40 times and may very well turn out to be an asset to the club.

With the new owners ready to back management with the funds for the right players, Liverpool may well land Gomez in the summer if they still want to sign him.

Fernando Llorente

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BILBAO, SPAIN - JANUARY 05: Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao celebrates scoring his sides equalizing goal during the round of last 16 Copa del Rey second leg match between Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona at Estadio de San Mames on January 5, 2011 in

Current Club: Athletic Bilbao

Expected Price: £26m

With rumors of Liverpool's approach for Fernando Llorente, fans were relishing the prospect of having two Torres at their disposal (Llorente's full name is Fernando Llotente Torres). 

Llotente has already scored 12 goals for Bilbao this season and is a regular member of the Spanish national squad.

He, along with Carroll and Gomez, seem to have been the strikers Liverpool had targeted on the last day of the transfer window to replace Fernando Torres.

Llorente has claimed Liverpool made an inquiry for him, which was rejected by Athletic Bilbao.

The 6-foot-5, 25-year-old striker is the perfect target man and seems to be very similar in characteristics to Andy Carroll.

Hence, the likelihood of Liverpool making an approach for him seem to be slim, but not completely ruled out.

Ezequiel Lavezzi

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NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: Ezequiel Lavezzi of Napoli in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Cesena at Stadio San Paolo on February 6, 2011 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Current Club: Napoli

Expected Price: £16-20m

The 25-year-old Argentinian is a versatile player with the ability to play as the lone striker, as well as the second striker.

He has scored seven times for Napoli this season and is considered to be the perfect partner for Cavani.

Nicknamed "El Pocho", with 35 goals in approximately 110 appearances for Napoli and the ability to play in the hole behind the striker, Liverpool may well tilt the scales in favor of Lavezzi.

Kenny might relish the prospect of playing the highly-rated player behind the lethal duo of Suarez and Carroll.

Karim Benzema

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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 09: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid runs with the ball during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Villarreal at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 9, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Current Club: Real Madrid

Expected Price:  £22m

Karim Benzema was touted to be one of the brightest prospects in Europe during his time at Lyon.

His strength and ball skills are considered to be the Algerian's main weapons.

He has also been a regular in Jose Mourinho's side this season due Higuain's injury, but has not seemed to find his feet in the Madrid side yet. 

The 23-year-old was also a French team regular, making 33 appearances for them until Domenech decided to drop him for the World Cup, citing his indifferent form for Real Madrid.

However, Higuain's imminent return and the possibility of the loan deal for Adebayor being made permanent, Benzema may well slip down the pecking order. With Real Madrid, the possibilities of new signings cannot be ruled out either.

Benzema might look for a move away from Santiago Bernabeu, and Liverpool looks like a likely destination.

Daniel Sturridge

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LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Daniel Sturridge of Chelsea celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Chelsea and MSK Zilina at Stamford Bridge on November 23, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun B

Current Club: Chelsea (on loan to Bolton)

Expected Price: £8m

Daniel Sturridge has been moving from club to club in search of first-team football, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Bolton already on his resume.

At 21 years of age, he still has his best years ahead of him and has already scored for Bolton three times in three games since his loan move from Chelsea at the end of January.

Liverpool is still lacking options for back-up striker with N'gog unable to impress in numerous chances and the aging Kuyt being preferred as a midfielder.

Hence, signing a young, 21-year-old prospect with EPL action might just be what is required.

Connor Wickham

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Connor Wickham of Ipswich Town in action during the Carling Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Ipswich Town at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Current Club: Ipswich Town

Expected Price: £10-15m

Connor Wickham is considered to be one of the hottest prospects in English football with almost all the top clubs interested in signing the youngster; Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal seem to be leading the race for the 17-year-old.

Wickham has been in prolific goal-scoring form for Ipswich this season, including a hat trick against Doncaster.

He also impressed in his performance against Arsenal, and though Spurs is said to be near a deal for the youngster, Liverpool and Arsenal are expected to step up their interest once the summer window opens again.

Though he has openly admitted himself to being a Liverpool fan and former Liverpool striker Torres being his favorite player, it ultimately might not have a bearing on his decision in the end.

Bojan Krkic

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BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Bojan Krkic of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Sporting de Gijon at Nou Camp on September 22, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won 1-0. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alons

Current Club: Barcelona

Expected Price: £17m

A product of the famed Barcelona academy, Bojan Krkic is considered to be a bright prospect for the future.

He has only made 18 appearances for the club so far this season, most of them from the bench. With Barcelona having a forward line consisting of David Villa and Messi to partner him, chances for Krkic to see more starts at Camp Nou seem to be slim.

The 20-year-old, who preferred to represent the Catalonian national team, is blessed with neat dribbling skills and great pace, something Liverpool seems to currently lack .

With the new owners wanting to spruce up the attack further and looking for young talents with potential, this might be the most likely option Liverpool goes for in the summer.

And Finally...

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Raheem Sterling of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his first goal during the FA Youth Cup match between Liverpool and Southend United at Anfield on February 14, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/G

With Carroll and Suarez, both young and proven strikers, on the squad, not to mention the academy's a potential stars in Sterling, Suso, Ince and Eccelston, signing a striker should not be the focal point of Liverpool's efforts in the transfer window.

However, with the new owners trying their best to get Liverpool back to the top, they just might sign another striker in the summer to have the back-up striker covered in case of injuries or to have some strength on the bench.

Any comments on the linked players would be welcome.

The next feature will contain the attacking midfielders/wingers who have been linked with a move to Anfield.