Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Marco Reus and Major Anfield Rumours

Liverpool are intent on striking a deal to sign pacy Germany international Marco Reus. Manager Brendan Rodgers is also casting a wide net in search of other reinforcements for his attack.

Strikers Sebastian Giovinco and Karim Benzema are reportedly at the forefront of his thinking. However, the Anfield club will face strong competition for both from Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Here's the latest on Liverpool's major transfer rumours, starting with Reus:

Rodgers Hoping Bumper Contract Will Lure Reus to Anfield

Getting Reus to leave Borussia Dortmund and choose Liverpool over a clutch of other high-profile suitors will be no easy task. Rodgers is hoping that an eye-popping contract will do the trick, per Daily Express reporter Jamie Anderson:

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Reports claim Liverpool are intent on signing the German international, and will stop at nothing to fend-off interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Liverpool chiefs have given the green-light for Rodgers to offer Reus a contract in excess of £200,000 per-week wages—a considerable increase on his current £60,000 a-week deal.

The likelihood of Reus leaving Borussia Dortmund is growing daily, and Rodgers will be boosted by the news that Jurgen Klopp is pursuing Paris Saint-Germain star Javier Pastore as his replacement.

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That is certainly a huge deal for any player, even one as talented as Reus. The 25-year-old possesses scarcely believable pace, excellent control and a deadly eye for goal.

Reus is versatile enough to thrive on either flank, as well as play behind a striker, or even operate through the middle in a centre-forward role. That's the kind of versatility and technical accomplishment Rodgers covets for his quick and fluid, possession-based brand of attacking football.

Every team has a need for a player as good as Reus, However, Liverpool's need could become greater than most if Rodgers can't keep Raheem Sterling on Merseyside.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

That's something he could struggle to do if reports of a Chelsea bid for the teenage wing-wizard prove true, per Daily Express writer Anthony Chapman:

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Liverpool are believed to be offering Sterling a five-year-deal with wages nearing £100,000-per-week, but the Reds are aware the situation is being closely monitored by European heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain.

It has been claimed that Sterling is open to a move away from Anfield in the near future, and it has even been reported by some outlets that Premier League rivals Chelsea have now thrown their hat in the ring.

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Liverpool can't match the riches Jose Mourinho's Chelsea would be able to use to try and tempt Sterling away from Anfield. However, securing a deal for Reus would more than soften the blow of losing one of England's brightest young talents.

Giovinco Available as a Free Transfer

Rodgers may keep his cash in his back pocket, if he believes he can beat Arsenal to Giovinco. The pint-sized Italy forward could be available on a free transfer next summer, according to Daily Express reporter David Wright:

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The Italy forward has found his first-time opportunities at the Bianconeri hard to come by this term, starting just one Serie A match.

The 27-year-old's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, putting Premier League suitors Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham on red alert.

Giovinco is yet to open negotiations with the Italian giants over a contract extension, and admits he could leave next summer.

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With pace to spare and also possessing excellent movement, Giovinco can succeed wide or through the middle. However, many will wonder how well the fun-sized forward would cope with the physical rigours of the robust Premier League.

Giovinco's ongoing struggles at Juve also have to rate as a concern. He has netted just two goals for the Turin club since the start of last season, per WhoScored.com.

That tepid form is what's prompting Juve to part ways, per Italian Football Daily writer Billy Wilkinson:

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Giovinco was bought from Parma in 2012 after being sold two years earlier but now it looks like the Italian striker’s Juventus career will be coming to an end for a second time as his contract expires in the summer of 2015 and his agent has reported that Giovinco and Juventus are nowhere near a contract renewal.

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However, Rodgers may feel a free transfer next summer is worth it to try and revive the career of a talented, but frustratingly misfiring attacker.

Gunners to Rival Move for Benzema

Rodgers' ideal scenario for improving his attack likely involves completing a deal to sign French international and Real Madrid star Karim Benzema. However, those plans could be scuppered by Arsenal interest, according to Daily Star reporter Chisanga Malata:

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But according to reports, the Arsenal manager has reignited his interest in the French international—who is also a target for Liverpool.

Sources in Spain claim that Wenger has held secret talks with the Real striker in an attempt to lure him to the Emirates in January.

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An earlier report from Malata had suggested the Reds had agreed terms on a proposed £38.8 million deal to sign Benzema:

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However, recent reports have suggested that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has reignited his interest in the Real hit-man—who has scored 113 goals in 243 appearances for Los Blancos.

Sources in Spain claim that the northern Irishman has held talks with Real chiefs, and they have told the former Swansea boss that he can sign the Frenchman for £38.8m.

They also claim that the striker is unsettled at the Bernabeu, and that he is currently weighing up his options.

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While these unnamed sources in Spain certainly have a lot to say for themselves, there's no doubt Benzema would be an excellent addition to Liverpool's attack. He has the height and physical power of a natural target man, but combines those qualities with a technical majesty and natural Gallic flair.

Benzema can be prolific and is also selfless enough to link well with others. That's something that ought to particularly appeal to Rodgers and Liverpool.

Benzema would form an excellent partnership with Daniel Sturridge. The latter could struggle to develop a similar bond with temperamental Italy international Mario Balotelli, who like Sturridge, is a very individualist talent.

However, no matter how Benzema might fit, Rodgers will have a hard time beating Arsenal to the punch. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has a long and storied history of bringing French stars to north London.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

He is also a keen admirer of Benzema, as Daily Mirror reporter John Cross has previously noted: "France international Benzema, who has fallen behind Giroud in the national team, has always been one of Wenger's most admired transfer targets but the striker was reluctant to move in the summer."

Even if Rodgers could beat Wenger to a deal, signing Benzema would surely stunt Balotelli's chances of making the grade at Anfield. The ex-AC Milan bad boy has been struggling with life at Liverpool, and is apparently already irking his teammates, per BT Sport's Ian Darke via ESPN:

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Mario Balotelli has been on Merseyside for only a few weeks and already he has found himself out of the Liverpool and Italy teams. Sources have told me that some of his team-mates at Anfield are none too impressed by his individualistic approach.

It does not sound as if manager Brendan Rodgers is doing cartwheels of delight either. 'He is not hitting the numbers he would have liked in terms of goals' was his response to a return of just one so far.

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But despite his problems, Balotelli is an exceptional talent. Given how unsettled the rest of the Liverpool team has been, while Rodgers has attempted to integrate multiple new signings, Balotelli deserves the chance to build a consistent run of form.

He won't get that chance if Benzema arrives.