Liverpool Transfer News: Big-Money Strikers Lined Up in Latest Reds Rumours

A lack of guile among his strikers has led Brendan Rodgers to prioritise attacking reinforcements this winter and latest reports suggest moves for Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Alexandre Lacazette are in the works.

However, the Reds will be disappointed to hear that Higuain is going nowhere this month after Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis told Sky Sport 24 (h/t Daily Star's Bruce Archer) he plans to keep the forward in Naples:

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I have no intention of selling Higuain. We are strengthening the team and will buy other reinforcements. We have to do this in a methodical manner, not by chance. If we can’t find the right ones in January, we’ll get them in June. I know we must reinforce the midfield and the defence.

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Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have amassed just three Premier League goals between them this season in a combined 39 appearances, pointing out just how sorely the side are missing Daniel Sturridge.

A big-money move for Higuain would see that drought up front reach its end, with Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti examining just how the Argentinian would fit in on Merseyside:

Higuain has scored 10 goals in 16 Serie A starts this season and currently sits as the joint-second-highest scorer in the division, but it's that kind of strike rate Napoli are keen to keep hold of.

What's more, the forward seems all the less likely to leave Napoli this winter after stating his desire to remain at the club following a recent win over Lazio, per Liverpool writer Jim Boardman:

Rodgers isn't letting such setbacks cloud his ambition, however, with news emerging of a potential £63 million double deal that would see both Benzema and Lacazette arrive in England.

That's according to the Express and Daily Star (h/t Metro's Lewis Rudd), which stated Rodgers wishes to pair the French duo together and reinvent his attack this year.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

For either to arrive, the club would assuredly have to make some space in the squad and on the wage bill, though, meaning the likes of Balotelli and Lambert could be heading for the exit.

As WhoScored.com pointed out, Benzema hasn't enjoyed his most prolific form of late and ended a barren spell with his strike against Cordoba on Saturday:

Lacazette, on the other hand, has been a devastating force in Ligue 1 this season, scoring 23 goals in 23 appearances and leading the race for the Golden Boot as Lyon's figurehead.

Matchbook.com detailed just what a sensational season the 23-year-old is having, showing he's no flash-in-the-pan talent with impressive consistency:

Metro cited the Express in stating the Lyon hitman would account for £25 million of the combined fee, while Benzema makes up for the remaining £38 million.

Considering how dearly both players are regarded by their current clubs, it would be a mountainous task for the Reds to consider landing either target, never mind both.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

It was only last year that Benzema put pen to paper over a new five-year deal at the Bernabeu, while one can bet the Merseysiders aren't the only party interested in Lacazette thanks to this season's exploits.

Rodgers has the arrival of on-loan striker Divock Origi to look forward to, but the manager is already setting his sights high in the demand for a big-name strike-force, although his targets may be out of reach.