Liverpool Transfers: 5 More Effective Alternatives To Antonio Cassano

particularly in the Express - this week that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano as a replacement for top scorer Luis Suarez, should he leave in the summer. That report suggests that Cassano has fallen out with Inter boss, Andrea Stramaccioni and has been placed on the transfer list at the San Siro. Having seen Cassano play against Tottenham this weekI have my doubts that he would be the man to take Liverpool further and I think he would be second in the pecking order to Daniel Sturridge anyway. Additionally, he is 30 and has only scored 7 goals for Inter this season, which is not exactly prolific. With that in mind, I present you with 5 alternative front men who could be more effective signings for Liverpool.

5. Javier Hernandez - Manchester United

Whenever Henrnadez plays or gets a run in the Manchester United team he scores goals, it's as simple as that. The problem for the talented Mexican is that he has fallen to fourth in the striking order at Old Trafford behind Van Persie, Rooney and Welbeck and he may have to leave in order to progress his career. His limited chances in the first team means he has fallen off the radar somewhat but in his first two seasons he scored 32 goals and he is well capable of recreating that form at another club. He would offer Liverpool a poaching instinct that they currently don't have and would link up well with Daniel Sturridge and Liverpool's speedy wide men. The only stumbling block is the rivalry between the two clubs which could hinder and deal being done, otherwise this would be a good move for both parties.

4. Lacina Traore - Anzhi Makhachkala

At 6ft8, Traore wouldn't usually be a player that people would associate with Brendan Rodgers style of football but the Ivorian International is far from being the lumbering, lanky centre forward that his height would suggest and Liverpool know all about him, having faced Anzhi twice in the Europa League this season. For a tall player he has exceptionally good ball control and dribbling skills and is as adept at finishing with his feet as he is with his head, as we saw in the first of those Europa games when he beat Pepe Reina with a sublime lob. He would offer the Brendan Rodgers ethos much more than the likes of Andy Carroll and would probably be tempted to move to the Premier League and prove himself on a bigger stage.

3. Michu - Swansea City

There is not one pundit or football fan alike who has not been impressed with Michu this season and it is unlikely that he has gone unnoticed with managers across the world. The Spanish striker has been in sensational goal scoring and creating form so far, notching 19 goals in all competitions and 15 in the Premier League, not forgetting helping Swansea to their first piece of major silverware. He would be a quality acquisition to any top flight team with his finishing ability, awareness and movement and would fit into Liverpool's style of play very comfortably indeed. He is likely to cost a lot more than Swansea paid for him, however and it is unclear if he would actually want to leave the club but if I was Brendan Rodgers I would be preparing a bid to test Swansea's resolve. http://youtu.be/oUv-S-gJYOA

2. Luuk De Jong - Borussia Monchengladbach

Like Michu, De Jong has only been with his club for one season, but with contracts meaning less and less in football these days, it is still a possibility for him to move on if the right offer is made. At 22, he is one of the brightest prospects in Dutch football and I was very impressed with him when I saw him play at against England at Wembley last year. He is not just a goalscorer, he has the creative presence of mind to assist others too and in fact in the 2010/11 season he was FC Twente's top scorer and assist maker, you don't hear that very often. His movement is also excellent and he likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender, which means combining him with Daniel Sturridge would be more than a handful for any team.

1. Stevan Jovetic - Fiorentina

At 23, Jovetic is still a rising star of the world game but he has considerable experience for his age and has a burgeoning reputation to boot. Comfortable up front or as a winger he is a player very much in the Suarez mould, tricky, skillful and a handful to play against with an eye for goal. He has 11 goals this season for his club and is well on the way to helping them qualify for Europe next season and would be an excellent fit into the Liverpool project that Brendan Rodgers is building at Anfield. He is likely to command a hefty transfer fee, but if Suarez does leave then that shouldn't be a problem if the income received is plowed back into improving the first team. The only worry here is that he has attracted the attention of the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal who could offer him more should Liverpool fail to qualify for Europe next season. All of these players, in my opinion, would be much better options for Liverpool than Cassano. They are all younger and are all likely to improve under the right coaching. What do you think? Debate in the comments section below.