Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Salomon Rondon, Alexandre Lacazette Rumours

Liverpool look set to use their recent £49 million windfall from the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City to reinforce their striking department.

The Reds' forwards had a miserable time of it last season, with Daniel Sturridge spending much of the term injured and Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert combining for just four Premier League goals between them.

Having apparently missed out on long-term target Christian Benteke, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has turned his attention to Zenit St. Petersburg striker Salomon Rondon, with the Anfield club reportedly having made an offer for the Venezuelan, per Calcionews24.com (h/t Jamie Sanderson in Metro).

As noted by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, Liverpool have done well so far in the summer transfer window, making numerous good additions throughout the squad:

However, despite the purchase of Danny Ings, Liverpool still need a new, top-quality striker if they are to compete at the top of the Premier League next season.

Rondon is certainly a capable front man and an excellent finisher, a skill that was lacking somewhat in the Liverpool forward line last season.

The 25-year-old netted 13 times in the Russian Premier League in 2014-15, second only to Hulk in the division, as Zenit won the championship, per WhoScored.com.

Per Calcionews24.com (h/t Sanderson), Rondon is open to a move this summer, but Liverpool may face competition for his signature.

David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com indicates Roma are also pursuing the striker, with Zenit "asking for between €20 million (£14 million) and €22 million (£15.4 million) to sell him."

The Merseyside outfit can afford to go in for Rondon, but he would be a risky purchase considering the step up from the Russian to the English top flight. 

Liverpool would perhaps be better off pursuing Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette, whose goalscoring stats last season were among the best in Europe, per football analyst Karl Matchett:

The Reds have been linked with the 24-year-old Frenchman in the past, but they would have to shell out a significant sum to sign him, with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas recently naming his price, per French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t MailOnline's Alex Sharp): "Of course, if a €50-60 million (£35-42 million) bid was tabled, I will no doubt have to prepare for his exit and wish him good luck. I really feel like he wants to stay."

While significantly more expensive, Lacazette would be a much better purchase than Rondon, not least because he is a more-prolific goalscorer.

Per Opta, the Frenchman is also a clinical finisher and is the type of player Liverpool have been sorely lacking since Luis Suarez's departure:

The inflated fee they received for Sterling gives Liverpool an opportunity to make a bold statement in the transfer market and set themselves up for a strong term in 2015-16.

It is clear that £35 million could be enough to prise Lacazette away from Lyon, and his long-term potential at Liverpool would be huge.

Using the Sterling fee, the Reds could still have more than £10 million left over from any potential purchase of Lacazette. That is good business in anyone's book.