Liverpool may make marquee move for Spanish striker Alvaro Morata

Liverpool, 15/8 chances with Coral for another top four Premier League finish, could target Juventus’ Spanish striker Alvaro Morata this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to add to his attacking options.

Reports from the continent claim the Reds will ready a bid for recent Juve acquisition Morata, 22, who only joined the Turin titans from Real Madrid in July. Los Blancos are also understood to have inserted a buy-back clause of £25m into the deal, however, in similar fashion to when they sold current Bernabeu right back Dani Carvajal to Bayer Leverkusen.

Morata, who is also interesting Arsenal and made his senior Spain debut during the last international break, cost Juventus a reported €20m, and has scored eight goals in 27 appearances across all competitions. He has played 90 minutes on just seven occasions, however, and in those matches netted half of his seasonal tally so far.

A pacey forward, who can also operate out wide, Morata would certainly give the Reds a versatile option in attack. Moving for him will spark speculation that Rodgers will offload one from Italian pair Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini, and Mersyeside native Rickie Lambert.

During Daniel Sturridge’s injury absence, Liverpool have used Raheem Sterling as a striker but, with Balotelli flopping following a £16m summer switch from AC Milan, they have looked short up front.

If Rodgers persists with a system that uses three central defenders and wing backs, then recruitment in the next transfer window will also focus on strengthening these areas, as well as solving the Reds’ goalkeeper issue.

Usual wingers like young Jordan Ibe and Lazar Markovic have been deployed slightly deeper on the flanks, though Liverpool are still struggling to keep clean sheets.