Liverpool Plot Summer Bid for £30m Spanish Striker - Report

Liverpool are considering a summer move for Swansea City forward Michu, according to Spanish Web site Fichajes.net. The 27-year-old only signed for the Liberty Stadium club last summer but has enjoyed a superb first season in the Premier League, with 17 goals from 32 appearances. The report indicates the Reds will face competition for the Spaniard from derby rivals Everton and north London club Tottenham.

It is believed Michu is now a priority target for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. The northern Irishman, who was in charge at Swansea before the forward arrived in Wales, is understood to be in the market for a top quality goal scorer.

Rodgers presently has Uruguay international Luis Suarez, ex-Chelsea player Daniel Sturridge and Italian youngster Fabio Borini as his options up front. Suarez has been terrific this term, with 23 goals from 33 appearances. Sturridge has impressed greatly since joining in January and Borini has shown glimpses of potential, as he struggles to recover from a broken leg from earlier in the season.

However, the South American is now banned for 10 games; he was sentenced for violent assault on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, whom he bit on the arm during a league game at Anfield.

This is the second such ban Suarez has brought upon himself; the first was an eight match ban last year for racially abusing Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra. Suarez's continuing disciplinary problems at Anfield have threatened his future at the club, with Rodgers being forced to admit he could be sold if it was in the club's best interests.

The Telegraph believes Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are interested in Suarez and the Bavarians were linked with a £40m summer bid, once former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola takes charge at the Allianz Arena.

The Swans' leading goal scorer is contracted through to 2016 and although he cost only £2m when he moved from Rayo Vallecano in Spain, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup now values the Spaniard at £30m.

The Dane also called Michu "the best buy for many, many, years", stating: "Michu has been outstanding, more so than anybody expected, and he's won a trophy too. There is so much quality with him."