Liverpool Transfer News: Karim Benzema and Bojan Krkic Bid Rumours Grow

Liverpool's long-held ties to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema have stepped up after talk of a £39 million bid has come to the fore, while in-form Stoke City forward Bojan Krkic is also said to be on the Reds' radar.

Benzema signed a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu just a few months ago, but the Independent's James Orr cites reports in Spain that a big-money offer is being prepared for his talents.

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For Benzema to arrive, one or more of Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini or Rickie Lambert would surely have to leave Anfield first in order to free up space.

Despite the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez being some of Carlo Ancelotti's higher-profile stars in recent seasons, Nicholas Rigg of ESPN FC says Benzema is enjoying his best season to date in Spain:

The 27-year-old has scored eight goals and created 24 opportunities in 16 La Liga appearances so far this term, per Squawka, a more productive record than any Liverpool striker has mustered in the absence of Daniel Sturridge.

Orr mentioned that Benzema was being tracked last summer as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez, but after winning the Champions League, Real weren't open to letting their main frontman leave.

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Brendan Rodgers' failure to make a successes out of 2014 signings Balotelli and Lambert has meant there's been more pressure on others in the squad to score, namely the likes of Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard.

Following Real's recent 3-0 win over Getafe, Ancelotti attributed the victory to Benzema's brilliance, per Real's official Twitter account:

With four-and-a-half years remaining on his deal and success in abundance, however, it's difficult to envision Benzema or Real wanting to part ways, even if a sum of £39 million was put on the table.

Stoke's Bojan therefore sits as a more realistic target, with James McLaughlin of Metro claiming that Rodgers' interest in the Potters ace is growing.

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The last few years of Bojan's career have been marked by fairly forgettable loan spells at Milan and Ajax, but after making the permanent move to the Britannia, he's finally impressing again.

Signed for £3 million last summer, Bojan has scored four goals and crafted 26 chances in his first 16 Premier League games. Ian Parkes of the Press Association (h/t Daily Mail) quotes Potters chief Mark HUghes in dubbing the Spaniard his best signing at Stoke:

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He’s getting better every game. The Premier League is a strong league, and he understood that when he came, but initially he was taken aback by it. But he has learned very quickly, he is an intelligent player, and a very talented one as well.

We’ve had to wait a little bit, but now he is up to speed and he is enjoying being part of a good team, one that looks to involve him and recognises the ability he has. He is thriving in this environment after feeling a little unwanted over the past two or three years, being on the edges of teams he has been involved with, but that’s not the case with him here.

Obviously he is an outstanding player, but I’ve also been really impressed with his personality. Given his career path some players’ heads would have been turned, but he is very level, he has great humility, is a good professional and we’re really pleased with him.

"

Given that the former Barcelona prodigy has finally come upon the sense of importance he's lacked for seasons at a time in the past, it would be difficult to envision him seeking a Potters departure at present.

Even with the promise of playing a higher level of football at Anfield, a Merseyside switch would likely see the attacker slip further from the first team again, something he assuredly doesn't want right now.

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For the Reds, Bojan seems something of a quick fix and nothing more. His recent form makes him a desirable asset, but it's still too soon to tell if his Premier League credentials are genuine.

Liverpool may yet make a move for a more established figure this winter, with Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe analysing the pros and cons of Ezequiel Lavezzi's potential switch from Paris Saint-Germain:

Despite his low price tag, Bojan is also a critical member of Hughes' squad at present. As Ali Tweedale writes for Football365, he has won them no fewer than eight points by himself this season:

Last summer, Liverpool made huge investments in their squad but have seen the likes of Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno and Dejan Lovren fall short of expectations.

A move for Bojan may be cost-effective, a 2015 deal for Stoke City's star may see the Reds invest in another talent too risky for their needs.