Liverpool Fail in January Move for Ivory Coast Striker

Liverpool's hopes of signing Anzhi Makhachkala's Lacina Traore are over after Dinamo Moscow manager Dan Petrescu confirmed the forward will join Juventus in the January transfer window.

The Reds' interest in Traore is well documented after agent Dimitri Seluk claimed they were among a group of clubs interested in the Ivory Coast forward last November.

Traore scored 13 goals in 18 games for club and country last season including against Liverpool in the Europa League group stage but Dinamo boss Petrescu says a move to Juve has already been agreed.

"I would love to but in January, Lacina will be a Juventus player," the ex-Chelsea full-back said when asked about his interest in the striker.

The signing indicates Juventus are anything but content with their current attack despite signing Carlos Tevez from Manchester City and welcoming Fernando Llorente on a free transfer from Athletico Bilbao in the summer.

Meanwhile, whether this news will stifle Liverpool's search for a striker is yet to be seen.

Luis Suarez continues to serve his 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic and is not due to return until the League Cup tie against Manchester United later this month.

After a summer of uncertainty over his future at Anfield, it is still to be seen whether the Uruguayan can be successfully reintegrated into the Liverpool first team and repeat the heroics which saw him finish as runner up to Gareth Bale for the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award.

Among Brendan Rodgers' eight summer signings was attacker Iago Aspas but should Suarez's returned to the fold prove to be unsuccessful then Liverpool make seek to further add to their artillery in the winter.

Fabio Borini has been sent on loan to Sunderland after a career at Liverpool dominated by injury, but is unlikely to be recalled after a series of insipid displays since his move from Roma.