Liverpool Target Free Scoring Colombian as Suarez Replacement - Report

Liverpool have been linked to FC Porto star Jackson Martinez, with Spanish newspaper Marca believing the Colombian is a possible replacement for Luis Suarez. The 26-year-old Uruguayan international has had a difficult end of season with the Anfield club, following a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Suarez's future has come under the spotlight, with an earlier report of concrete interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich followed by rumours of a €40m bid from Atlético Madrid.

The 26-year-old Martinez has had a superb season in the Portuguese Liga, with 25 goals in his debut season; he has a further three from eight games in the Champions League. The Colombian international, Marca believes, has €40m (roughly £34m) release clause in his contract.

Martinez is at the centre of a storm of rumours surrounding possible transfers of top-class strikers, with Serie A giants AC Milan and Juventus, Spaniards Barcelona and Atlético Madrid and Turkish club Galatasaray all linked to the player.

If Brendan Rodgers wants his man, he will have to move fast. There is, however, another and far bigger problem for the northern Irishman - Martinez's valuation.

The Reds will likely have only £20m for summer transfer funds, meaning any move for Martinez can only be taken if Suarez leaves the club; ideally for a fee in excess of £40m. The Premier League club will also hope to recoup a sizeable portion of the many millions they spent on England striker Andy Carroll.

However, just how much value the former Newcastle United forward has after a disappointing time at Anfield remains to be seen, with the Telegraph believing the Magpies will offer only £7m to take their former star back to St James' Park.

Even then, Liverpool could be hard-pressed to offer the kind of wages or chance to play in the Champions League that Barcelona, for example, could put on the table.

Serie A Snub

The one good news for Liverpool is that both Juventus and Milan are unlikely to be potential destinations, with the player's agent, Giovanni Fiore, ruling a move to Italy. Contact from the Bianconieri was confirmed but Fiore stressed: "... therefore exclude Martinez Jackson's arrival to Italy".

Russian Riches

There are more clubs circling the Colombian, with talkSPORT believing a number of Russian sides were monitoring his progress. However, Portuguese newspaper A Bola believes Anzhi Makhachkala, one of the interested sides, have been rebuffed - for both financial and sporting reasons.

Martinez to Liverpool

Could all this mean Martinez may move to Anfield? That remains to be seen, given the level and quality of opposition bidders. Fiore has already revealed there is serious interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both clubs will probably be looking for strikers in the summer, with David Villa likely to leave and Gonzalo Higuain almost certain to as well.