Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi is attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Southampton according to the player's agent Giuseppe Galli.

Berardi has scored three goals in 10 Serie B games this season, turning the heads of several Italian rivals and clubs from the Premier League.

Italian champions Juventus and Serie A rivals Roma are both understood to be in contention, along with English champions City, while both Liverpool and Southampton have applied to scout the forward.

Domenico Berardi
Berardi (left) has scored three goals this season.

"Juventus, Roma and Manchester City seeking Berardi? These are not rumours - this is real interest," Galli told tuttojuve.com.

"During recent weeks these clubs have sent observers to see Sassuolo's matches on many occasions.

"Manchester City's scouts have often come from England."

Sassuolo general director Nereo Bonito added: "We have received accreditation requests to view our games in recent times from English clubs such as Liverpool and Southampton.

"But it is too early to talk about the market so there has been no contact with any club.

"Berardi has important qualities and certainly he deserves attention, but I think the guy has yet to grow and that Sassuolo is the right place for him to do it.

"We would like to keep the whole team until the end of the season, then in June we'll see."

Despite Bonito's insistence that Sassuolo will attempt to keep Berardi until the end of the season, Liverpool are among those who require additional attacking resources in the more immediate January transfer window, with Luis Suarez being relied upon for goals given the absence of Fabio Borini, and Andy Carroll being allowed to join West Ham United on loan.

City meanwhile, have in Mario Balotelli, Eden Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, the most potent strike force in Europe, but under Roberto Mancini, none of the quartet have been able to achieve consistent success in front of goal.

Southampton, despite being newly promoted from the Championship, should not be dismissed as a realistic suitor, having signed Gaston Ramirez during the summer amid interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

Chairman Nicola Cortese has shown himself to be willing to spend big in the transfer window, also financing the signing for former England under-21 international Jay Rodriguez.