Liverpool Transfer News: Saido Berahino Blow Dealt, Latest on Steven Gerrard

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace has told Liverpool and other potential suitors for Saido Berahino to forget signing the English striker, for now at least.

Liverpool and Tottenham are said to be monitoring the 21-year-old who has notched seven goals in 11 Premier League performances this season, as reported by Laurie Whitwell of the Daily Mail.

Bids will be met with resistance, however, as noted by Peace and reported by Sky Sports:

Whitwell posted additional comments from the chief:

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He is contracted to play for West Bromwich Albion until at least the summer of 2017 and we are happy to sit down with him and discuss extending that commitment on terms which recognise his continuing improvement as a footballer and his growing importance to our own plans. 

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Peace continued by confirming "preliminary talks with Saido's representatives" have begun. Whitwell suggested the player's current £12,000 per week deal will be doubled but even this offer will seem minimal if elite clubs prepare their own terms.

Berahino has been directly involved in 54 percent of West Brom's Premier League strikes this season, per WhoScored.com. His sharp movement and clinical finishing have seen him rewarded with an England call-up for the imminent matches with Slovenia and Scotland. This provides the speedy youngster an excellent opportunity to establish himself on the international stage in Daniel Sturridge's absence.

If reports prove true, the two could soon form a partnership at Anfield. Berahino would certainly fit in at Liverpool, where his energy and willingness to move the ball quickly would naturally adhere to Brendan Rodgers' attacking style.

Berahino is performing remarkably well compared to his countrymen, as noted by Sky Sports:

The player himself recently admitted "my aim would be to play in the Champions League, to be involved in the England seniors and go and play in World Cups and Euros," per Sky Sports. It's unlikely West Brom are going to appear in the continent's elite competition anytime soon, so it is possible Berahino will need to move on to fulfill his ambitions.

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Rodgers will undoubtedly be itching to improve his attacking options at the earliest opportunity, but he is also said to be focusing on consolidation as January approaches. Specifically, contract talks with Steven Gerrard are due to begin "later this week," according to Dominic King of the Daily Mail.

Gerrard remains a key player for the Reds and is a leader both on and off the pitch for an inexperienced side. With players such as Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic and Emre Can developing each week, his presence is vital to a developing squad which continues to struggle since Luis Suarez exited.

This is perhaps what Rodgers has in mind heading into the winter transfer market. Although Berahino appears unattainable right now, Peace doesn't inspire great confidence that the player will still be at the Hawthorns a year down the line. This is certainly a situation to monitor, particularly if Berahino continues to notch goals at the rate he has shown this season.

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West Brom are only a point behind Liverpool, largely thanks to the striker's goals. A lack of cutting edge continues to hamper the Merseyside club, who are craving the return of Sturridge. Should he reappear from injury in decent form, it's likely Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and others will begin to find the net more regularly.