Liverpool Ready £16m Bid for Inter Milan Striker Mauro Icardi

Liverpool are reportedly preparing a £16m bid to acquire the services of Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan in the ongoing transfer window.

The Daily Express reports that the Argentine striker has now emerged as the top target for Brendan Rodgers as he is still scouring the market to find a replacement for Luis Suarez. The Reds have already spent close to £90m on seven signings including a loan move for full back Javier Manquillo.

However, Rickie Lambert is the only addition in the goal-scoring department as Divock Origi was sent back to Lille on a season-long loan. The England international has failed to show his attacking prowess in pre-season matches which has prompted Rodgers to search for another top-class striker.

Icardi made the switch to San Siro from fellow Serie A rivals Sampdoria in a co-ownership deal last summer. The 21-year-old featured in 22 matches in the previous campaign netting nine times and grabbing two assists as Walter Mazzarri's side finished fifth in the league table.

The Nerazzurri secured the player's full rights in June this year which entitles them to full profit from the youngster's departure. However, reports claim that Inter's hierarchy are demanding £28m to allow the player to leave before the end of the month.

Icardi has also been linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester City but one of the striker's agents Letterio Pino has refuted rumours of ongoing talks with a Premier League club.

"Neither I, nor Abian Morano, his other agent, ever had any contacts with the English club," Tutto Mercato Web quoted Pino as saying.

Liverpool have been warned by former players like Steve Nicol and Mark Lawrenson to sign Suarez's replacement or struggle to finish among the top four.

It remains to be seen who Rodgers will switch his attention to if the Merseyside club fail to agree a deal with Inter for Icardi.

Meanwhile, former England and Queens Park Rangers striker, Rodney Marsh believes Lambert is not a player of Liverpool's quality.

"Rickie Lambert is going to spend the majority of the season on the bench. For me, he is not a Liverpool player, in the way that Brendan Rodgers wants to play," the 69-year-old told talkSPORT.