With West Bromwich Albion putting the kybosh on Liverpool’s supposed interest in youngster Saido Berahino, the rumour mill has switched gears with the Reds now eyeing a move for highly rated Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto.
The Anfield outfit were apparently interested in taking the Argentine to Merseyside when he was still with Primera División side Racing Club, but in the end the 21-year old ended up moving to Spain last August for £4.85mil, penning a five year deal with the Yellow Submarine in the process — 12 goals in 23 league and cup appearances later and the Reds interest in the hit-man has apparently been reignited in a big way, though they won’t be snapping him up for quite as cheap as the song Villarreal paid for him.
Although figures tend to vary, Liverpool are reportedly ready to fork out up to £12mil to secure his services and fight off interest from the likes of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Roberto Mancini’s Inter Milan. With Luis Suarez pulling up stakes for Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge picking up a series of muscle injuries, the Reds have lacked the explosive attack that served them so well last season and has lead to their poor start to the season.
Vietto, who has been dubbed the “new Sergio Aguero“, may not solve their woes right off the bat, but it’s believed that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is a keen admirer of his style of play and believes the youngster could be a good replacement for Mario Balotelli — a player he has now admitted doesn’t fit their high pressure style of play.
