Exciting Transfer: Liverpool keen to sign 'excellent' £30m striker with 244 goals and assists

Earlier this year, multiple reports claimed that Liverpool were planning to activate Gonzalo Higuain's £30m release clause in a bid to sign the prolific striker 'before the end of January'. The Reds have been constantly linked with the 'lethal' Argentine over the last three years, and the link has resurfaced again this week.

According to reports today:

* Liverpool are still 'keeping tabs' on 'excellent' Higuain.

* The Reds 'head the queue' to sign the striker if he becomes available.

When asked in January about Liverpool's alleged interest, Higuain's agent insisted that the striker is 'happy' at Napoli, and added"

“Do Liverpool want Higuain? I haven’t spoken to any club, firstly because they haven’t called me and secondly because it would be disrespectful. We’ll see about Gonzalo’s future"

At first glance, it appears that the agent is ruling out a move to Anfield, but in reality, it's the same statement that most agents give in response to transfer queries:

* pay lip-service to the player's loyalty to their current club.
* Insist the player is happy and not thinking about leaving.
* Contradict that by suggesting the player will consider their future in the summer.

In my view, Higuain's agent clarified nothing nothing with his statement, and reading between the lines, it seems that the 27-year old will almost certainly be available in the summer, especially if Napoli fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Higuain - nicknamed 'El Pipita' - is a cut above the players Rodgers usually signs, and he represents a significant upgrade on Borini, Lambert, and Balotelli, but as much as I'd love to see him at Anfield, I honestly can't see why he'd sign for Liverpool.

Higuain is 27, which means his next contract will his last as a top-class player in his prime, and he'll want to win trophies in the last few remaining years of his top-level career. As such, he'll probably opt for a team that consistently challenges for trophies, and right now, that isn't Liverpool.

In the club's current situation, Brendan Rodgers does not have the pull to attract a player like Higuain, and the only way the Reds will be able to sign him (and players of similar quality) is if Rodgers is replaced by an internationally renowned manager.

One thing's for sure: Higuain is the real deal, and his creative stats prove that:

* 244 goals/assists in 353 apps for Napoli and Real Madrid
* Goal/assist every 1.4 games.
* 20-25+ goals/assists every year for the last six years.

Yes please.

Author: Jaimie K