Why Liverpool have to snap up this £12.2m La Liga star:

It’s hard to say what Brendan Rodger’s main priority is going to be during the summer transfer window. Will he look to shore up his defense, which looked a little dodgy during the first half of the season? Will he seek out a long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard? Or will he try to and find a back-up striker for Daniel Sturridge?

I’d argue that he should prioritise the latter. Jordan Henderson is more than capable of stepping up in Gerrard’s absence. Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho are good centre-backs, who are likely to come back even stronger next year. But Liverpool are short of options upfront.

Their gamble on Mario Balotelli simply hasn’t paid off. Brendan Rodgers spent £16m on the Italian and he just hasn’t produced the goods. He’s arrogant, he’s selfish and he’s goal-shy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move on in the summer.

This would leave space in the squad for a new option. Here’s hoping that Brendan Rodgers is already drawing up his wishlist.

Which brings me to The Metro‘s claim that Liverpool are hoping to seal a deal for Villarreal’s star striker, Luciano Vietto. Indeed, the source claims that the youngster is now Brendan Rodger’s ‘top transfer target’.

At just 21-years-old, the Argentine ace has certainly caught the eye this season. In 39 games for the La Liga side, he’s found the back of the net 20 times. He’s also shown his pace, technique and knack for excellent build-up play on numerous occasions. He’s among the best young strikers in the Spanish league. Why wouldn’t Brendan be interested?

According to the aforementioned source, Vietto could be available for just £12.2m. That’s a bargain for a player who’s clearly set for big things. He’d represent a marked improvement over Mario Balotelli and he’d help to make The Reds more competitive. In many ways, this deal looks like a necessity for Liverpool.

What’s your take? Do Liverpool need to sign a new striker? Would Luciano Vietto be a good option?

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