LIVERPOOL: Three Potential Replacements For Luis Suarez (If At All He Leaves)

Rodrigo

SL Benfica star Rodrigo has been attracting interest from the likes of Broussia Dortmund, Juventus, Napoli and Shakhtar Donetsk in recent months due to his skill, pace and balance. Capable of playing as a lone striker, part of an attacking trident, and can drop back and play as a classic no.10. The versatility he can offer is similar to that of Suarez, and would very much be a like for like replacement. Though 2 potential problems are that the young Brazilian is under contract with the Lisbon based side until 2019, and lying await inside that contract is a £40m buyout clause. Although the potential sale of Suarez will most likely bring in £40-£50m, they will most likely not be willing to spend the majority of it on a young, seemingly unproven striker. Though what could tempt the Reds into splashing out on him, is that he has impressed in the Premier League before, back in 2010/11 he spent a season on loan with Bolton Wanderers, although he only scored a single goal, his skill and flair gave the Bolton attack a new dimension. With clear talent, his best years ahead of him and previous experience in England’s top flight, £40m could secure Liverpool a leading striker for the next decade.

Elkeson

Brazilian striker Elkeson was once dubbed ‘The next Ronaldo’, but a loss of form at Botafogo seen the Serie A side cash in on him as they sanctioned his sale to Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou Evergrande. Since his move to China he has exploded once again, scoring 24 goals in 28 games, he has proved to be a bargain at around €5.7 m. Though his market value has surely risen since his move to Asia and may cost Brendan Rodgers around £20m, and the Chinese are notoriously hard to negotiate with, with the last incident being Didier Drogba’s move from Shanghai Shenhua to Galatasaray reeking of controversy. At a younger age Elkeson was dubbed to become as successful as Barcelona star Neymar, but although he hasn’t been offered the same illustrious step as the former Santos forward, Liverpool can offer him the chance to sell himself on the world stage.

Alfred Finbogason

As a lot of starlets leave the Eridiviese and never really hit the same heights at any other league. The Reds have experienced this first hand with Ryan Babel, but Finbogason has a goal to game ratio better than that of Luis Suarez while he was at Ajax, and we all know what a player he has become in the Premier League. With 38 goals in 42 appearances for Hereenven, he has been courted by Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Valencia, giving Liverpool a reason to move for him to get a head start on the rather stiff competition. Famed for being able to keep his cool in tough situations, he has also been gifted with pace, control and a great passing range for a striker. The Iceland international could be available for as little as £5m, after he refused to sign a new contract with the Dutch side.