Liverpool are considering a summer swoop for Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan who has been in sensational form for Shakhtar Donetsk this season.

Mkhitaryan has put in a number of top-class performances for Shakhtar since making the move to the club in 2010 and this season has also become an important goal scorer for the side, firing 19 goals in just 20 games.

According to the Public Radio of Armenia, Mkhitaryan is seen as a possible successor to Steven Gerrard, and Liverpool are willing to pay with both cash and a player in order to secure the star who is reportedly wanted by other clubs across Europe.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a reported target for Liverpool.

The Reds are believed to be putting together an offer of £10 million that would also see Martin Skrtel move in the opposite direction. The central defender has fallen out of favour with Brendan Rodgers who has preferred to play Jamie Carragher in recent months.

Skrtel's agent Karol Ksonto recently admitted that star could be leaving in the summer, saying: "He has not played as much as expected and we need to speak with the coach [Rodgers] of Liverpool.

"I think the situation will be clarified at the end of the season.

"As for the interest from other clubs, this is normal for a player of the level of Skrtel. I can only add that no formal proposals have been reported to us."

With Shakhtar looking likely to once again qualify for the Champions League, Skrtel may well have no objections to being part of the deal as he has previously stated that he wants to play at the highest level.

While Gerrard is still an integral part of the Liverpool line-up, Rodgers will be looking for a long-term replacement as he knows how difficult it will be to replace such an influential figure.

And should Rodgers not be able to offer Skrtel the game time he needs at Liverpool, the defender could serve as a good bargaining tool in order to land a player full of potential like Mkhitaryan.