Liverpool Transfer Rumour: Rodgers Targets Young Serie A Striker

Liverpool are planning a summer approach for Parma striker Ishak Belfodil. Tutto Mercato Web believes the 21-year-old, who is also being courted by Everton and Tottenham, has been scouted by Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers on three different occasions.

The Algerian-born player has seven goals and three assists from 32 Serie A games this season and has played his part in ensuring the Stadio Ennio Tardini club remains in the Italian top flight.

Rodgers has already confirmed the Anfield club will look to sign attacking players this summer.

The striker's present contract expires in 2016 but regardless of his value to the club, Parma could be persuaded to release him. Belfodil has reportedly fallen out with manager Roberto Donadoni and the fans. In addition, moments of controversy regarding his international career have not helped matters. Belfodil is eligible to represent both Algeria and France on the international scale but that only happened after a great deal of argument between the player and the former country's manager, Vahid Halilhodzic.

Should Rodgers press ahead with this signing, he will also face competition from a host of top European clubs, including Arsenal, Serie A champions Juventus and Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund.

Former Liverpool Midfielder Hails Carragher

Spain and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has hailed Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. The 35-year-old Anfield veteran is to retire in the summer and Alonso, who played with the ex-England international during his time at the Merseyside club, called the centre-back a "leader".

"... because he was always thinking about the club - not just the team, the institution. He had a very big picture about what had to be done for the club. You could see that he was a tough guy; he was very direct. When we started playing you could see he was an example on the pitch," Alonso told Liverpool's website.

"He was always thinking about the game - he loved football, he could be talking about football for hours. He always had football magazines, football books and biographies of former players. He is 100 per cent football," he added.

Carragher has made over 700 appearances for Liverpool and will make his last on Sunday evening, when the club hosts relegated Queens Park Rangers at Anfield.