Liverpool are being linked with moves for both Ezequiel Lavezzi and Saido Berahino in the January transfer window as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to add more firepower to his attack.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Lavezzi is reportedly unhappy in the French capital and is looking for a move away, with Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express linking the Argentine with an £8 million switch to Anfield in the new year.

The 29-year-old Lavezzi has also been heavily linked with Inter Milan as manager Roberto Mancini looks to bolster his forward line, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson), but Jefferson’s report suggests a potential loan move for Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski to the Serie A club gives Liverpool a greater chance of signing the former Napoli forward:

Lavezzi has started only eight Ligue 1 games so far this season—scoring two goals, per WhoScored.com—and has not joined up with the PSG squad for winter training in Morocco, per beIN Sports’ Tancredi Palmeri:

It does indeed look as though he may want out of the Parc des Princes, but while a talented player, Lavezzi is not a prolific goalscorer, making him potentially a poor target for Rodgers.

Liverpool’s main problem in attack so far this season has been a loss of goals caused by Luis Suarez‘s departure, Daniel Sturridge‘s injury and the inadequacies of replacements Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert.

They need a proven goalscorer, and Lavezzi is not that—former U.S. international Janusz Michallik discusses some potentially better options with B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey below—although a price tag of just £8 million does make him a more attractive signing.

As for West Brom‘s Berahino, the Englishman started the season in storming fashion, scoring seven league goals in nine appearances, but he has failed to net once since October, per WhoScored. 

However, the rumours surrounding his potential move to Anfield continue to grow, with John Cross of the Mirror reporting that Rodgers is looking to hijack Tottenham’s January move for the England international.

Cross describes the Reds’ pursuit of 21-year-old Berahino as “deadly serious,” with Liverpool prepared to go head-to-head with Spurs for his signature as soon as the January window opens.

Opinions differ surrounding his price tag, but Sami Mokbel in the Daily Mail suggests West Brom will demand £25 million although Liverpool are preparing to negotiate that figure down.

As WhoScored‘s Martin Laurence suggests, such a high price seems somewhat inflated for a player who has yet to prove that he can score goals on a consistent basis:

Liverpool should definitely think twice before considering spending such money on Berahino. The Reds have been stung before on overpaying for players, a prime example being the £35 million paid for Andy Carroll back in 2011.

While Liverpool do need added goals, Sturridge is close to a return, and their convincing 4-1 win over Swansea on Monday proves that there are goals elsewhere in the squad.

Rodgers’ current problems may not be solved by simply throwing money around, and the Reds must be sensible in the January transfer window, as they do seem to have the quality in the current squad to vastly improve their performances from the first half of the season.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2314296-liverpool-transfer-news-huge-ezequiel-lavezzi-and-saido-berahino-rumours-emerge
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