Liverpool have reportedly deployed scouts to keep an eye on a prolific Primeira Liga centre-forward also wanted by Arsenal.
Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres has taken the Portuguese top flight by storm since arriving from Coventry City last summer, sitting on a staggering 38 goals across all competitions.
Twenty-four of the Swede's strikes have come in 29 Primeira Liga matches, in addition to supplying 10 assists, as Ruben Amorim's side close in on the title.
From 45 matches across all competitions, Gyokeres has remarkably had a hand in 54 goals - 38 of his own and 16 assists - and he is currently on course to win the Primeira Liga Golden Boot.
The former Coventry man penned a long-running contract with Sporting until 2028 upon his arrival last summer, but he has inevitably been tipped to make a big-money move back to England.
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Liverpool watch Gyokeres in top-flight victory
Arsenal - who are known to be searching for a new marquee centre-forward - are believed to have identified Gyokeres as a possible acquisition, while Manchester United and Chelsea have thrown their hat into the ring too.
However, HITC claims that Liverpool are also interested in bringing the 25-year-old back to British shores, and the Reds had representatives in attendance to watch him against Vitoria de Guimaraes last weekend.
Gyokeres did his prospects of a Premier League switch no harm in that contest, notching two goals as Amorim's men strode to a 3-0 victory, although he was just one of three players the Reds were running the rule over.
Liverpool are expected to prioritise the signing of a new defender first and foremost, and the report adds that the scouts were also watching the in-demand Goncalo Inacio, also on Man United's radar.
In addition, Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand was supposedly on Liverpool's watch list too, as Thiago Alcantara is expected to depart Anfield when his deal runs out in the summer.
Do Liverpool need to sign a new striker this summer?
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Liverpool's centre-forward situation is a particularly hot-button one at present, even though Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo are all jostling for position at the tip of the attack.
As Gakpo struggles for starts and consistency, while Jota - statistically the Reds' most clinical forward - battles a plethora of fitness problems, Nunez has spent the majority of the season as Jurgen Klopp's number nine and has 31 contributions to boast from 50 contests.
Such numbers are certainly applaudable, but the Uruguayan is without a goal or assist in his last three Premier League games, and Liverpool fans could reel off several of his high-profile missed sitters from memory.
Nunez's alarming wastefulness has led to suggestions that he could even be let go before Arne Slot comes in, but the Reds supposedly have no plans to part ways with the South American, who is still only 24 years of age and has time to refine his craft.
With centre-backs, wingers and possibly a new goalkeeper on Liverpool's shopping list this summer, a new number nine should not be high on Slot's agenda.
Ben Knapton
