Liverpool Transfer News: Stefan Kiessling Fuels Bayer Leverkusen Exit Rumours

Liverpool have been put on high alert after Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling suggested he's headed for the BayArena exit on Saturday.

The 31-year-old scored twice and set another two goals up in the Factory Squad's 5-0 demolition of Borussia Monchengladbach, before hinting to Sky Sport Deutschland that he could move in 2016 (h/t Metro's Tom Olver):

"

I’ve got to be honest and say we’ll have to see. I’ve given it some thought and I will keep thinking about it. The situation is that of course I would like to be playing – I’ve been here for 10 years and love this club and everybody knows how happy I am here.

I’ve got a pretty good relationship with the fans and of course also with the club. I love playing here and I love this club, and it’s overall a very, very difficult situation for me and everybody knows this.

I want to be playing a bit of football at the end of my career and that is why I’ve got to give things good thought. I’ll speak to the bosses and see what the best solution is.

"

Kiessling's Leverkusen contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2017, but after seeing summer arrival Javier Hernandez thrive in the Bundesliga, his playing time at the club has diminished greatly this season.

The brace scored on Saturday provided Kiessling's second and third goals of the 2015-16 league campaign, but ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp might have use of the attacker at Anfield.

Season	Games	Goals	Avg. Games/Goal
2006-07	44	8	5.50
2007–08	44	16	2.75
2008–09	40	14	2.85
2009–10	35	21	1.67
2010–11	29	9	3.22
2011–12	43	17	2.53
2012–13	43	27	1.59
2013–14	43	19	2.26
2014–15	47	19	2.47
2015–16	23	5	4.60

Liverpool have experienced forward frustrations of their own this season: Summer signing Danny Ings has been sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and Daniel Sturridge is battling for fitness.

A lot may depend on how willing Kiessling is to take a risk on the Premier League this late in his career, and Bundesliga reporter Ryland James proclaimed there is interest in the striker from Bundesliga outfits:

Kiessling moved to Leverkusen from Nurnberg in 2006 and established himself as a staple centrepiece for the Factory Squad for almost a decade, despite never featuring prominently for the German national team.

DW Sports attested to just what a prolific scorer he has been for Leverkusen during that period, and Saturday's brace brought him level with some esteemed names in the Bundesliga ranks:

Kiessling has started in 13 of his 23 appearances across all competitions this season, and while Klopp may not deem him a superior asset to Christian Benteke or even a fit Sturridge, the Leverkusen striker could provide a terrific, seasoned option.

That being said, Kiessling speaks of seeking assurances over playing time in what could be the final move of his career, something the Reds may not be able to offer.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Klopp will be familiar with a player who featured as one of Germany's most consistent scorers for a great deal of his tenures with Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, making him an informed opinion on whether to invest in Kiessling.

The player may be a short-term solution, considering he'll turn 32 in January, but with an eye for goal and Leverkusen perhaps willing to let him go, signing Kiessling could prove a masterstroke in the winter window.