METRO - Liverpool have been scouting Zenit Saint Petersburg striker Sardar Azmoun and the Iranian’s excellent form has impressed the onlookers, according to reports in Russia.
The 24-year-old moved to Zenit from Rubin Kazan on 1 February this year and has been finding the back of the net on a regular basis ever since.
Azmoun has scored 14 goals in 17 matches across all competitions since his arrival, including two in the Russian Super Cup on Saturday, which Liverpool scouts were in attendance for, according to SovSport.
Zenit went on to lose 3-2 to Lokomotiv Moscow, but the brace from the Iranian appeared to confirm to the visitors from Merseyside that he is the bright talent they thought he was.
Liverpool were first linked with Azmoun back in the January transfer window of 2017, but he was not interested in the switch due to a likely lack of game time.
‘There were talks of Liverpool having expressed an interest in me during the past winter transfer window,’ Azmoun said in 2017. ‘However, I did not feel the time to move was right.
‘I would have ended up playing a few games and then spent a great deal of time on the bench as Liverpool were only looking to fill a void for a particular part of their season.
‘I want to move to a big club to develop as a player and therefore I will time the move with great precision. ‘I am sure I will be playing for a top European club in the near future.’
Azmoun attracted a lot of interest in 2017, with Celtic (then under Brendan Rodgers), Everton, Lazio and Valencia all reportedly keen on him.
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Now in the best form of his career, the man dubbed the ‘Iranian Ibrahimovic’ will be attracting a number of suitors again this summer, having also starred for his country at the Asian Cup in January, scoring four goals.
Daniel Sturridge is set to leave Liverpool this summer, while the future of Divock Origi is uncertain, so the Reds are in the market for a back-up to first choice striker Roberto Firmino.