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Liverpool tempted by Anzhi striker Traore

Lacina Traore made his mark against Liverpool last week © Getty Images

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Liverpool and Udinese are interested in signing Anzhi Makhachkala striker Lacina Traore, according to the player's agent Dmitry Selyuk.

Traore, who scored the only goal of the game as Anzhi beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Europa League last week, joined big-spending Anzhi at the end of June for a fee in the region of €18 million from fellow Russian club FC Kuban Krasnodar.

The striker has also played in Europe for CFR Cluj, where he scored two goals in the Champions League group stage in 2010-11 before moving to Russia and scoring 18 goals in 38 Premier League games for FC Kuban.

Traore is an Ivory Coast international up to Under-23 level and won a call-up into the full squad for this week's friendly against Austria following his performances for Anzhi. He has scored 11 goals this term, seven in the league and four in Europe.

It would seem unlikely that Anzhi would be prepared to sell a player they signed less than five months ago so soon and would look for a sizeable profit on the fee they paid, which would appear to go against Liverpool's current transfer policy.

"Aside from Liverpool, Udinese are another on the list of clubs to have made contact about the purchase of Traore," Selyuk was quoted as saying by Russian newspaper Izvestia. "I'm afraid the Italian side won't be able to meet the player's valuation.

"At the moment Lacina is happy with his situation at Anzhi. Not long ago he signed a contract until June 2016. There's no reason for Traore to rush.

It comes two days after Traore told Sky Sports he would be open to a move to England. "England is a great place to play, I am no different to any other player," Traore said. "It is a dream but I am happy here, although you never know."

Former Russia international Andrei Kanchelskis told Izvestia he believes Traore would suit the English game.

"Traore has all the attributes, height, technique, speed, in order to start playing in England," the former Manchester United and Everton winger said. "For Liverpool, he would be a good buy, especially given the current state of affairs in the team.

"In any case, if he receives offers from Premier League teams and especially from Liverpool, he has to go. How much have Liverpool won in their history? And how much have Anzhi won? Let's not talk about it, it's ridiculous."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.