Liverpool finally enter race for €80m PHENOMENON

Liverpool have belatedly entered the race for one of Europe's hottest strikers. Can they get a deal done?

Liverpool are in the market for a striker this summer. Exactly who they'll land on is a bit of a mystery, however.

READ MORE: Liverpool ENTER talks to sign 40 goal striker

Alexander Isak is the dream. The Newcastle United striker ticks every single box right now and there's no question that Liverpool would love to sign him.

Newcastle are very much aware of this, too, and set his price accordingly: roughly £150m. It would smash to the British transfer record and honestly, there's no guarantee they'd even accept that.

Thus Liverpool must look at other options. That's included Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko - two of the best young strikers in Europe.

But is that really what the Reds are after? We get the impression that they'd prefer to sign a player entering his prime rather than a work-in-progress talent.

And that might explain why they've belatedly entered the race for one of Europe's top goalscorers.

READ MORE: €50m Liverpool striker deal moves CLOSER

Liverpool enter Viktor Gyokeres race

Correio da Manha reports that Liverpool have now entered the race for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede have been an absolute revelation since arriving in Portugal.

43 goals in his debut campaign was followed by a ridiculous 54 in 52 games last season. His effort in the league (39 goals) finished second in the running for the European Golden Boot.

That naturally has teams looking at him, though Arsenal are the only club to have made a bid. Sporting rejected the offer of around €65m all-in, says the report.

The Portuguese champions want close to €80m in order to sell Gyokeres but it's said here that Liverpool will not pay that. It creates the impression that they're simply putting a bit of pressure on the situation in order to lower that price tag.

But this is one that was always coming. Liverpool want a striker and their are limited 'elite' options on the market right now.

Gyokeres would be an enormous risk given the price, his age (27) and coming out of Liga Portugal. But he's also a consistent goalscorer and someone who does know English football, albeit largely the Championship.

READ MORE: The best striker in the world wants to join Liverpool

No one should expect Liverpool to make anything happen soon. This one could escalate, though, and it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Swede sign for the Reds.