Having seen Luis Suarez depart Anfield for Barcelona last summer and now captain Steven Gerrard to LA and potentially youngster Raheem Sterling next out, Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers have a busy close season ahead. No doubt the Premier League side will spend a substantial amount and it is reported that one of the names in their quest for a marquee signing is Paris St Germain’s Javier Pastore.

The 25-year-old Argentina international has reemerged this season in Paris and been central to Laurent Blanc’s title winning side after a difficult couple of seasons where it appeared his obvious talents might go to waste. Five goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 do not tell the entire picture as Pastore has provided plenty of drive and guile from midfield that is missed merely in statistics.

His performances have seen him win back a place in Argentina’s squad and many would like to see Gerardo Martino find a place in the starting eleven for the former Huracán youngster. With El Globo, the classy enganche caught the eye immediately and after a move to Palermo, Pastore continued to impress. A wonderful range of passing and the ability to drift past defenders, El Flaco is a slightly old-school playmaker in a modern era where pace and power dominate.

Pastore would be welcomed to most sides in Europe so if he is to leave Paris the thought would be that Liverpool’s competition for his signature would be intense. Certainly Brendan Rodgers possession based football would benefit from having a player of Pastore’s quality in it but the same could be said for a great many sides.

Aside from Liverpool’s necessity to buy this summer, the rumour is also fuelled by Pastore and Paris St Germain still not agreeing on a contract extension for his current deal that expires in June 2016.

If there is no sign that this will be signed, Paris may well want to try and recoup at least some of the  €39.8 million they paid Palermo. Some reports in the English press suggest that Liverpool are already prepared to test the water with a bid of £14.5 million but for a 25-year-old, international, coming off the back of a title winning year this figure seems very low.

With the Copa América next month, Pastore could further enhance his reputation and the number of potential suitors could increase.