Liverpool Transfer News: Alex Song, Gonzalo Higuain Targeted in Latest Rumours

Liverpool are ready to rival West Ham United for the signing of Alex Song, according to reports, and they are also chasing Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Song has impressed during his season-long loan at West Ham from Barcelona, but Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is now interested in the midfielder, per Spanish outlet Fichajes.net (h/t talkSPORT).

The report claims that Barcelona will look to sell Song in the summer and are happy to let him join the highest bidder. West Ham reportedly offered €6 million (£4.6 million) for Song.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hoping the club’s challenge for European qualification will help to persuade Song to move to Upton Park permanently.

“If we can stay at this level of football and stay around this position and he helps us to do that, then we are strengthening our arm for something that might be more permanent,” Allardyce said, per London 24.

Manchester United have also been linked with Song, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, and Allardyce is aware there could be competition.

He added: “Someone else coming, it might attract him, but it might be a case of better the devil you know rather than moving somewhere else.”

With Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, midfield is an area Rodgers may look to strengthen. He could also try to boost his attack.

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Napoli striker Higuain has emerged as a target, per Jack De Menezes of The Independent, which claims a £30 million deal could be in the offing if Mario Balotelli can be moved on.

Luis Suarez’s departure for Barcelona and the ongoing injury troubles afflicting Daniel Sturridge have left Liverpool short of goals this season.

Jamie McLaughlin of Metro certainly thinks Higuain could be the answer, writing: "Higuain is a proven goal-scorer and unless Liverpool sign someone like them they could see their chances of qualifying for the Champions League again slip away from them. It would be a real shame if they undid all the good work of last season by not scoring enough this term."

Alexandre Lacazette is another striker to have been linked with Liverpool, per Joe Short of the Daily Express, but French outlet Le Progres (via Eurosport) claim Manchester City have made an offer for the Lyon forward:

Goals have been in much shorter supply for Liverpool this season, with just 29 scored in 21 Premier League games, per the club’s official website. In contrast, last season, Liverpool scored 101 goals in 38 games, per Soccerbase.com.

Balotelli has yet to score in 12 league appearances, per WhoScored.com, since joining Liverpool, and it is no surprise to see him linked with a move away from the club already.

Upfront presents a more pressing need for Rodgers to make a signing than in midfield. It just may be that Rodgers will have to sell before he is able to bring in a new striker.