Man City striker Stevan Jovetic on Rodgers’ radar for Liverpool

Liverpool’s summer recruitment strategy has gone progressively well so far. Following the signings of James Milner and Danny Ings on free transfers, in came goalkeeper Adam Bogdan and young centre back Joe Gomez for modest fees, before blockbuster Brazilian, Roberto Firmino arrived for £18m, who was quickly joined by Nathaniel Clyne for £12.5m.

The Reds, who are now 20/1 with Coral to win the Premier League title, were also said to be linked to midfielders Mateo from Inter Milan, Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi, centre back Aymen Abdennour and a plethora of strikers, including Christian Benteke and Gonzalo Higuain.

Not one’s to skirt away from ambition, they are now understood to be tracking Manchester City’s Montenegrin attacker Stevan Jovetic, who despite having an abundance of talent, is rumoured to have deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad.

This could be a recruit which makes sense. Already accustomed to the Premier League, Liverpool could be the perfect environment for him to excel. Still only 25, Rodgers can get the best out of him and linking him up with Firmino in attack could prove to be a masterstroke.

In what is believed to be the second concrete negotiation of the summer between the two clubs, attacker Raheem Sterling is apparently edging closer to a £50m move across the M62. This could pave the way for Jovetic to join, with a £16.5 fee being mooted.

It could prove to be better value than a move for Benteke, who is less mobile and almost double the fee the Reds are lining up for the City man.

Whether Rodgers decides to cull his move for another frontman if he lands Jovetic remains to be seen, with reports in Napoli saying Higuain is desperate to seal a switch to Anfield. With the first phase of the recruitment strategy done at Liverpool, expect the next to gather pace soon.