Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Marco Reus and Jeremy Menez Rumours

Liverpool may struggle in their reported attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus this summer with the Bundesliga club unsurprisingly unwilling to sell.   

The German attacking midfielder signed a new contract with Dortmund earlier this year, which also saw his £20 million release clause removed.

The Reds would have to shell out a lot of cash if they were to sign the 26-year-old, but the Sunday Telegraph (per Goal.com, h/t Squawka, via Metro) recently reported Liverpool were prepared to spend £46 million of the £49 million they recently received for Raheem Sterling.

However, Sky Germany's Jan Aage Fjortoft indicates that Dortmund are unlikely to sell off their best players in the current window, especially with manager Thomas Tuchel only recently installed:

Reus would be an incredible replacement for Sterling. Not only is he a more established talent than the Englishman, but he is both a proven goalscorer and a consistent creative presence.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, the Reds have already had a successful transfer window, signing the likes of Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings and James Milner:

Pulling off the signing of Reus would arguably make them the undisputed champions of the summer window, but it seems highly unlikely.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, though, is happy with the signings he has made thus far, and he is insistent that a direct replacement for Sterling is unnecessary, per the club's website: "It's not so much [about] a direct replacement for Raheem, it's just about improving the squad. We've brought in a number of really good players and you add that to what we've already got and the balance in the team looks strong. There's not a need, I didn't feel, for a direct replacement for Raheem."

An absolute necessity for Liverpool—despite the Ings signing—is a new striker to add the goals that were lost last term after the departure of Luis Suarez.

According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato Web (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express), the Reds have made an approach for AC Milan's Jeremy Menez, and the Serie A outfit are open to selling.

The French striker netted 16 times in the Italian league last season, per WhoScored.com, a far better return than any of Liverpool's front men in the Premier League.

A France international, the 28-year-old Menez only moved to Milan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, and he would apparently "command a fee in the region of £10.5 million," per the report.

Certainly, Liverpool have the money to afford Menez, and his dynamic movement and excellent finishing ability would add an edge to the Anfield outfit that was so sorely missing last year.

However, with money in the bank from Sterling's sale, Liverpool should arguably be aiming higher to bring in a truly world-class striker.