Transfer News: Liverpool Eye Suarez ‘Replacement’ | Man Utd Linked With Colombian

The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Liverpool have identified a potential replacement for Luis Suarez while Man Utd are linked with a Colombian midfielder.

Liverpool eye Muriel

First up and the Express are reporting that Liverpool have identified Udinese striker Luis Muriel as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez, should the Uruguayan leave this summer.

Suarez signed a new four-and-a-half year contract at Anfield in December following a failed bid from Arsenal last summer, which came after the striker has gone public with his desire to play in the Champions League.

Reports suggest that the new contract has a release clause that states Suarez can join a foreign club for £70m IF Liverpool fail to finish in the top four this season, so there is certainly a lot at stake for Brendan Rodgers over the closing 12 games.

Liverpool currently sit fourth in the table so are in pole position to secure Champions League football for the first time in seven seasons. However, if they slip up during the run-in and finish fifth or worse, there’s a real possibility they could lose their star man, so it makes sense that Rodgers is drawing up a contingency plan.

The Express claim that the Northern Irishman has his eye on Udinese hitman Muriel but he’d have to splash out over £20m to persuade the Serie A outfit to cash in.

Muriel is a Colombian international who’s been earning rave review in Italy over the past 18 months, but while he’s a huge talent, the 22-year-old is still raw and is nowhere near the level that Suarez is at.

I’m sure Liverpool fans will have everything crossed that the club can continue their fine form and finish fourth so they won’t have to endure another summer of speculation over the future of Suarez.

Man Utd battle for Guarin

Next up and talkSPORT are reporting that Manchester United boss David Moyes plans to renew his interest in midfielder Fredy Guarin this summer but could miss out with Inter Milan keen to open talks over a new deal.

United were strongly linked with Guarin during the January transfer window and there was even talk of a potential swap deal involving striker Javier Hernadnez.

talkSPORT claim that Moyes has retained his interest and will make another attempt to land the Colombian international at the end of the season, but he now faces a new battle to get his hands on the midfielder.

The report suggests that Milan are planning to open contract talks with the player and are ready to offer him a new three-year extension that will include a sizeable pay rise in order to keep him at the San Siro.

United have endured a difficult first season under Moyes and you’d expect a lot of transfer activity at Old Trafford this summer. Midfield is certainly an area that needs strengthening and Guarin would be a useful addition with the 27-year-old box-to-box midfielder able to offer something different to the current crop of midfielders that are on the books at the champions.

However, it looks like Moyes will have to monitor the players situation closely over the coming months as Inter line-up their new contract offer.

READ MORE –> Liverpool transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

So there’s your latest transfer news. What do Liverpool fans think of links with Luis Muriel? Would Man Utd supporters like to see Fredy Guarin join the club? Share your views below.