According to reports from Talksport radio in the UK, Liverpool and Arsenal are battling for a Brazilian striker.
He goes by the name of Luiz Adriano, as the Shakhtar Donetsk man has spoken about his desire to make a move from the Ukrainian giants in 2015.
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Adriano, 27, scored nine times in seven UEFA Champions League appearances this season and has alerted several Premier League teams as he is out of contract in December 2015 and will be free to negotiate a move to a non-Ukrainian team as early as this June.
The Brazilian international forward will be in action for the Selecao against France in Paris on Thursday, as his sharp-shooting has caught the eye of national team coach Dunga. Adriano is quoted as saying he will leave Shakhtar in December when his contract runs out.
“My plan is to respect the contract, which has not been renewed and will expire in December 2015,” Adriano said. “I am in a good moment of my career and we’ll do what will be best for me and for the club. With my contract set to expire and many good performances, it will be difficult to stay in Ukraine.”
So, who needs him most?
Arsenal certainly have an abundance of attacking options with Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Yaya Sanogo, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott on the books, so a move for Adriano seems a little unnecessary unless Wenger wants to move one of those players on. When it comes to Liverpool, the move makes more sense. With Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert the only recognized strikers at the club, the likes of Borini and Lambert may be offloaded this summer with Divock Origi due to arrive from Lille. Could Brendan Rodgers add Adriano with Origi to bolster the Reds’ offensive stable? At times Liverpool have looked short of goals and options up front this campaign, and the pace of Adriando may well compliment Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.
Adriano has scored 122 goals in 253 games for Shakhtar (making him their all-time top goal scorer) since making his debut in the 2006-07 season. After moving from Internacional nine years ago, the Brazilian forward has been a formidable force in the Ukrainian Premier League. His form in the UCL this season, which included eight goals in two group games against BATE Borisov, suggests he could cut it in the PL and as he continues to get chances for the Brazilian national team his stock will keep rising.
