Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Watch Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala in Latest Rumours

Liverpool "sent a scout" to watch Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala in action during Inter Milan's 3-0 win over Palermo on Sunday, according to Gazetta dello Sport (h/t Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo).

Both strikers are in hot demand this season and are among Serie A's top goalscorers, per WhoScored. Icardi took his tally to 13 with his brace in the aforementioned victory, while Dybala remains on 11 after failing to build on his goal against Verona the week before.

Walsh suggests Liverpool "wanted to keep an eye on" the duo as they squared up at the San Siro. They are wildly different players but could fulfill Brendan Rodgers' current need to sign a top-quality central striker.

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Icardi is a tempestuous, difficult character whose argumentative nature recently saw him confront Inter fans with expletives after the defeat to Sassuolo, reported by Marcus Christenson of the Guardian. Despite his two goals against Palermo, the 21-year-old opted not to celebrate in front of his own supporters.

"It is his decision not to celebrate, but I can assure you in the locker room he was very happy," said his team-mate Fredy Guarin, per Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia).

The Italian feeds off chances fired into the box but could be accused of being selfish on the pitch. He has played 0.7 key passes per match this season, averaging just 15.9 passes each fixture with a success rate of 73.1 percent in the domestic league, recorded by WhoScored.

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Icardi has also only completed an average of 0.2 dribbles in every display, so it's questionable whether he would fit in with Liverpool, whose players work for each other. Dybala appears a more natural fit and possesses the attributes associated with Liverpool's frontline: pace, energy and creativity.

Indeed, he has completed 1.4 key passes per match, averaging 32.1 passes with a success rate of 82.6 percent, per WhoScored. He also creates his own space with three successful dribbles every appearance and has six assists to Icardi's one. Dybala is far more of a natural worker and less of a risk for a manager who has consistently banished moody summer signing Mario Balotelli to the bench (or out of the squad) this season.

Dybala's qualities are highlighted below, per BT Sport:

It's also worth noting he missed a clanger against Inter, tweeted by beIN Sports' Tancredi Palmeri:

Both players are likely to interest many clubs throughout Europe. Icardi has been touted for a move to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the past, meaning Liverpool may struggle to compete financially if huge sums are involved.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini previously placed a €40 million tag on Dybala's head, telling Mediaset (h/t Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC), "Within two years, he's going to be better than Cristiano Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic."

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This is unlikely to turn out true, but he's certainly a top prospect for the future. Liverpool will most likely need Champions League qualification to lure players of this potential in the summer.

Daniel Sturridge's recent return indicates Rodgers will have ample firepower at his disposal for a push to make fourth, but his fitness and Balotelli's inability to score a Premier League goal means it's possible Liverpool could come up short. Such a failure would see the club fall behind those vying to take Icardi and Dybala elsewhere at the end of the season.

Rodgers certainly needs someone to mop up chances in the opposition's box, as much of Liverpool's excellent work is done outside the area.

A clinical, speedy marksman stationed in the middle to provide runs ahead of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho could see Liverpool score with greater regularity—they haven't netted more than twice in 10 matches, per WhoScored—a feat that would allow the team to maintain pace with England's best.