Liverpool Face German Fight In €24m La Liga Striker Chase – Report

Liverpool face competition from Borussia Dortmund in their pursuit of Diego Costa with the club looking at the Atletico Madrid striker as a possible replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Costa was a target for the Reds in the summer with Brendan Rodgers having a bid rebuffed for the Brazilian-born striker. He has since continued his brilliant form for Atletico scoring 16 goals in 15 appearances, placing him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo in the La Liga scoring charts.

And now Sport Bild is claiming that Dortmund are also showing interest in the hopes of replacing Lewandowski before the striker can leave next summer on a free transfer.

While Liverpool already have a more than capable attack in Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge they will likely be looking for more depth in case one of their prolific hitmen is injured. Iago Aspas is yet to produce the level needed to challenge for Champions League football and Costa would be another option for Rodgers as he looks to continue building on the depth of his squad.

But with a release clause worth €24m and competition from Champions League regulars Dortmund it will certainly be very difficult for Liverpool to convince Diego that Anfield is where he belongs.

The club have had trouble attracting big talent in recent seasons due to a lack of top-tier European football but as they currently sit second in the table it would appear they're on the up.

For Dortmund meanwhile the search for a replacement for Lewandowski will be tough as he was such an outstanding member of the squad for the last three seasons.

His desire to play elsewhere has seen the Poland international refuse to sign a new deal with the club and they will be hopeful that he doesn't agree a move to Bayern Munich in 2014 after Mario Gotze made the same transfer in the most recent summer.

But Costa - who is now eligible to play for Spain after spending six years in the country - would certainly serve as a good replacement in waiting if the club are able to land him in January.

And after a big-spending summer it would appear that Dortmund are more willing to meet his release clause than Liverpool at this stage.