Liverpool Transfer News: Edinson Cavani To Reds? Marco Reus, Alberto Moreno Near Deals?

Liverpool and boss Brendan Rodgers have spent nearly £90 million to bring seven new players to the Anfield, but thus far none can be viewed as replacements for Luis Suarez. That is until news broke Friday of the Reds interest in Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani. Following the four-month ban FIFA handed down to Suarez after the Uruguayan bit yet another player on the pitch during the World Cup, Rodgers and Merseyside officials decided it was time to severe ties with the superstar scoring machine and received a £75 million bounty from Barcelona.

However Suarez’s departure left a huge hole in the Reds attack, and they needed to recoup those 31 goals and 12 assists from last term. Some, like Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, believe Daniel Sturridge is capable of leading the Reds attack and charge into the Premier League and Champions League. Still Merseyside aren’t quite willing to take such a risk before the start of the term in the next two weeks.

Enter Cavani, another Uruguayan talisman who’s scored 94 goals in the last four years between PSG and Napoli, and is certainly capable of filling up the Suarez void. According to ESPN UK, the 27-year-old’s agent said his client had spoken to both Liverpool and Arsenal at some point in the last six months.

"There was much interest in the player during the past six months. I can confirm that Cavani has heard proposals from Liverpool and Arsenal," Claudio Annelluci said to Uruguayan newspaper El Telegrafo. "He would love to play in England, but has not yet made a final decision. He is not interested in money and fame, he just wants to be happy playing football."

Cavani could be third star to leave France’s Ligue 1, fresh on the coattails of Monaco’s James Rodriguez and the much speculated deal that would ship Radamel Falcao back to Spain but with Real Madrid. The report also stresses that PSG would be open to the deal, but any interested team (Manchester United and Chelsea are also intrigued and deep-pocketed) would have to compensate the French side for the £53 million they paid for Cavani just last summer. Not to mention what kind of wage Cavani can command.

Falcao himself was another option Rodgers explored, but he was reportedly rebuffed and told the Colombian would be on his way to Madrid shortly, according to the Times of London. Liverpool were only seeking to acquire Falcao on loan though, and the speculated Cavani deal could very well be permanent. The statement from Cavani’s agent seems to indicate the star is in no rush to make a decision, but Rodgers might have to press PSG soon, with the EPL term beginning in a week and the transfer window closing soon after.

With the possible addition of Cavani still a dream at the moment, Merseyside is reportedly assured of the services of present Sevilla defender Alberto Moreno. The 22-year-old will play in one last match for the Spanish side next week, the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, and then the Reds can complete the £14 million deal, Daily Mirror reports. Earlier this week Liverpool confirmed the loan of defender Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid, and he and Moreno could give the backline a much needed jolt of youth, especially late in the term when the Reds have been known to fade.

While Liverpool knows Moreno will join them shortly, the same can’t be said for highly sought after Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus. After toying with the idea of letting him go for the right price, Dortmund are pulling out all the stops to keep the German responsible for 30 goals in the last two years.

“[We will] definitely try to keep him long term,” Borussia’s sporting director Michael Zorc said according to Metro. “Marco is not only a hugely important player for us because of his athletic performance, but also in his role as a poster boy.

“He is Dortmund-born and a figurehead for this club.”

Fencing with Bayern Munich, United and Arsenal in the process, the Reds would need to negotiate Reus’s market value of £44 million way down in order to land him. Still the attempt makes tons of sense for Liverpool to pursue, given what kind of damage a midfield featuring Steven Gerrard, Adam Lallana and Reus could inflict in the upcoming season.