Brendan Rodgers identified the Colombia international as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez last summer and is keen to bolster his attacking options

EXCLUSIVE
By Romeo Agresti

Liverpool are keeping tabs on long-term transfer target Luis Muriel and have sent scouts to watch the Udinese striker twice in recent weeks.

The Anfield club had identified the Colombia international as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez last summer, who was the subject of two failed bids from Arsenal.

Liverpool rejected Suarez’s transfer request and the Uruguayan has subsequently formed a devastating partnership with Daniel Sturridge that has fired Brendan Rodgers’ side into Premier League title-winning contention.

Suarez appears happy at Anfield and recently signed a new contract – though it contains a buyout clause, which can be triggered by a foreign club willing to pay between €72-85 million.

Regardless of the 27-year-old’s future, however, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add to his forward options – as evidenced by recent failed pursuits of the likes of Willian and Yevhen Konoplyanka – and is weighing up a summer offer.

Muriel, 22, has struggled to recapture the form that alerted Liverpool to his potential last season and has scored just three times in 14 appearances for a side that is entrenched in mid-table in Serie A.

Liverpool could face competition for Muriel who attracted interest from Wolfsburg in the January transfer window, while Juventus are also understood to be monitoring the forward’s situation.

Aside from Suarez and Sturridge, Liverpool’s forward options are severely limited with Iago Aspas – who has found it tough to acclimatise since his summer move from Celta Vigo – the only other recognised senior striker on the club’s books.