Liverpool have reportedly stepped up their interest in Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy and are now weighing up an £8m summer move for the France international, amid interest from the player's long-time admirers Arsenal.

According to the Express, the Reds have identified Remy as an ideal cover for Luis Suarez, who will miss the opening six games of the next Premier League season, after receiving a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm last week.

Loic Remy
Reuters

Liverpool are confident of keeping Suarez at Anfield for another year but they are not willing to compromise on firepower and risk yet another disappointing start to the season. The current campaign saw the Merseyside outfit making their worst league start in over 100 years and Brendan Rodgers is determined to avoid a similar situation next season.

Andy Carroll will return to Liverpool after his season-long loan at West Ham United but the 6ft 3in forward does not figure prominently in the former Swansea City manager's plans and is likely to leave the club in the summer.

So Rodgers will look to bring in Remy, in order to fill the club talisman's shoes, at least for the first two months. The 26-year-old's contract with QPR has an £8m release clause that will be triggered once the Hoops are relegated.

Remy has five goals to his name from nine Premier League starts for QPR this season. The report claims Arsenal and Newcastle United are also interested in the former Marseille man.

The Gunners have been tracking Remy for some time now and is understood to have considered an approach for him during the January transfer window. However, Wenger was put off by the forward's injury record and decided against the move. The Frenchman eventually joined QPR and his performances in the English top flight and match fitness placed him back on the north London side's radar.

Arsenal's cross-town rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are in the market for a striker, are also understood to be interested in Remy.

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