Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers admits that striker signing is priority this summer

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that signing a top quality striker was the club's priority this summer, while insisting that the defensive side is as important as the offensive.

The Merseyside club have been busy during the ongoing summer transfer window, and have already welcomed six new players to Anfield, as they look to put last season's disappointment behind and qualify for the Champions League next season.

The Northern Irishman failed to replace Luis Suarez last summer, which saw the Reds struggle to score goals and the manager is keen to address the issue this summer. He has already brought in Brazilian Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings from Burnley, but is yet to bring in a proven goal scorer.

Liverpool have been linked to various forwards in recent weeks, and according to the Mirror, Rodgers has identified Christian Benteke as the perfect candidate to lead the line, with the report claiming that the striker is set to undergo a medical ahead of completing his switch from Aston Villa.

"It was just clear we needed to score more goals. But I wouldn't want that to be taken as that the other side isn't important. I believe that our defensive organisation is critical to allow our talents to flourish," Rodgers said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

"You've seen on this tour already the idea - our pressing game, the intensity to get the ball back quickly. We can do that when we have all the tools in the squad to score goals and create them."

"A few years ago we needed to improve our goal tally and we did that and it gave the team a little bit of profit. I feel it was the same this summer," the former Swansea City manager explained.

"We were down on our goals. Overall it is the balance we need to improve offensively and defensively and the players that will contribute to both."