English Premier League giants Liverpool have shown interest in German striker Mario Gomez, according to Italian media outlet Tutto Mercato Web.
The striker has been widely pursued by French outfit Monaco this summer, and the sudden interest shown by the Reds could be to due to a possible release of Italian striker Mario Balotelli from Anfield this summer.
The former Bayern Munich striker is currently with Italian side Fiorentina, where he arrived from the Bavarians in 2013 on a four-year-deal believed to be around £14m.
The 29-year-old, is also believed to be keen on a move out of Fiorentina this summer after having limited playing time last season. He has scored just 10 goals from a total of 32 appearances last season.
This doesn't make a very good stat, considering the fact that the lanky goal poacher had scored an impressive 113 league goals in 174 appearances for Bayern over the course of four seasons.
An ambidextrous forward, Gomez won the treble - the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the UEFA Champions League - in his last season at Bayern, under veteran Jupp Heynckes.
The former German Footballer of the Year (2007) has a contract at Fiorentina that runs until June 2017, but it is believed that the striker is ready to move out of the club this summer if there are better offers for him.
This should motivate Liverpool to step up their pursuit for the player. The Reds have been pretty active in the transfer market this summer and have already bolstered their attack following the signing of Danny Ings for free.
Ings, 22, was instrumental for Burnley last season, as he scored 11 goals out of 35 appearances, but he unfortunately couldn't help his side stay above the relegation zone.
The Merseyside club have also snapped up goal-keeper Adam Bodgan from Bolton Wanderers, mid-fielder James Milner from Manchester City, and starlet defender Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic, in this summer transfer window.
A move for Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne is also set to be finalised in some hours as the player currently undergoes a medical at Anfield.
It was reported that as many as seven players could head out of Anfield this summer, which includes the likes of Fabio Borini and Balotelli, and Liverpool could look forward to use the money from the sales to bring in players who can challenge the team for a Top Four finish in the Premier League.
All the transfers will be official on 1 July, when the transfer window opens, subject to a medical.
