Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Mandzukic Rumours Grow, Yannick Bolasie Swap Eyed

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to lure Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic away from the Vicente Calderon, according to Jamie Sanderson of Metro, who cites Spanish reports.

Mandzukic "has apparently fallen out with boss Diego Simeone in recent weeks, and a transfer away is now on the cards, with Liverpool keen," according to Sanderson. The Croatian hitman is the embodiment of Simeone's spirit on the pitch—combative, powerful and gutsy—but would be available for £26 million, per Sanderson.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Atletico fans will have bemoaned Diego Costa's exit in the summer. However, Mandzukic has worked hard to make an impression with 12 goals and five assists in 24 La Liga appearances, per WhoScored.com. He is the type of player who puts his body on the line for the club, letting emotion and heart drive his actions on the pitch.

Rodgers needs a reliable spearhead to round off Liverpool's attack. The Anfield club possess plenty of creativity in behind and on the wings—Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana to name a few—but a reliable centre-forward is a must if the team are going to improve next season. Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert just don't cut it.

In fact, The Sun (h/t Liam Corless of the Mirror) reports that Lambert will be used to sweeten a deal for Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie. Corless indicates the burly Englishman will play the role of "bait" to aid Liverpool's quest to match the 25-year-old's alleged £20 million valuation.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Bolasie's performances have gathered hype of late due to his 11-minute hat-trick against Sunderland. In truth, four goals and six assists in 29 matches, per WhoScored, isn't enough for a player who possesses his potential. He is capable of truly magical moments of skill, but there's an inconsistency to Bolasie's game that should force elite clubs to think twice.

Corless believes the player is "raw," but we're not talking about a teenage prodigy, so £20 million appears far too steep.

B/R UK's Sam Tighe recently looked at players Liverpool should target to make an impact next season:

It seems unlikely Mandzukic would call time on his Atletico tenure so soon, and Simeone won't want to lose yet another important forward heading into the new season.

Bolasie is talented, yet it's wrong for Palace to command a major figure after just a handful of top-quality performances. Rodgers needs to sign carefully, especially after last summer's difficulties.