Loïc Rémy, Antoine Griezmann
Neither Loïc Rémy, left, nor Antoine Griezmann will be playing for Liverpool this coming season. Reuters

Liverpool’s summer recruitment drive has been dealt a blow with Loïc Rémy’s proposed transfer to Anfield being called off. The Queens Park Rangers forward had been expected to complete an £8.5 million deal after flying to Liverpool’s base in the United States to undergo a medical. Instead, reports claim that the results of that medical led to Liverpool calling off the transfer. While not delving into the details, Reds manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Rémy would not be following Dejan Lovren through the door to become the club’s sixth signing of a busy transfer window.

“It's very simple, we have decided not to go ahead with the deal,” he said, according to Sky Sports. “It's unfortunate for the player -- we're obviously disappointed -- but there's nothing more to be said. We move onto other targets.”

The news was met with surprise by QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who dismissed the notion that Rémy had any problem that would see him fail a medical. Still, the club is hardly likely to discuss any issue, were there one, and harm his chances of completing a move elsewhere. Regardless, it leaves Liverpool looking to fill a void up front. Rodgers has insisted he will not rush into adding to the purchases of Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and former Southampton trio Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and defender Lovren.

“There are certain different areas where I want to bring in players, but they have to be the right type,” he said, reports the Liverpool Echo. “There is money to spend, no question, but I won’t spend it for the sake of it. It has to be the right type. If that means I have to wait until January then that’s what I will do.”

One of the targets Liverpool could now turn to is Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony. The Ivory Coast international struck an impressive 16 goals in his first season in the Premier League following a £12 million transfer from Vitesse Arnhem. But Swansea have delivered a warning that if Liverpool are to prize the 25-year-old away, they will have to dig deep.

"We've had no contact from anyone at all,” Swansea manager Garry Monk said, according to BBC Sport. “At the end of the day he's [Bony] not for sale, unless someone comes in with an astronomical offer. Unless they want to pay an astronomical fee he's going nowhere.”

The Daily Mirror instead believes that Liverpool will turn to Jay Rodriguez after Rémy’s move broke down. The 24-year-old versatile forward scored 15 Premier League goals last season to earn a first cap for England before his chances of making the World Cup squad were ended by a cruciate knee injury. If Liverpool do hold a serious interest in Rodriguez they will have to move quickly, with the former Burnley man thought to be close to signing for Tottenham.

It has already been confirmed that Liverpool have missed out on one of their reported targets after Antoine Griezmann completed a transfer to Atletico Madrid. The France forward has signed from Real Sociedad for a fee of €30 million (£24m).