Sources: Liverpool want rapid forward worth £33million that has "energy to burn"

Former Aston Villa and Scotland boss Alex McLeish believes that Ollie Watkins could play for Liverpool after being linked to the Reds by Football Insider.

Jurgen Klopp will be in the transfer market for a centre-forward this summer, sources close to Anfield Central have been told, with Odsonne Edouard rejecting the Reds over fears that he wouldn't get regular game time.

Divock Origi's measly 536 minutes this season is likely the cause of his concern. Despite the issues Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are having in front of goal, the Belgian striker cannot get a game at Liverpool.

He's set to leave this summer and will be replaced and while Edouard might not be the man to take his place, Football Insider suggests that Liverpool are considering Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins as someone who could.

The English forward, worth £33million after his switch to Villa Park, has been in fantastic form this season. His 12 Premier League goals is a tally higher than what Mane, Firmino or even new signing Diogo Jota have managed for Liverpool and this is the issue.

The Reds need a clinical forward that can provide support for Mohamed Salah, who has carried the attacking threat this season. He's one goal off 30 in all competitions and it seems as though Liverpool don't win games if the Egyptian doesn't find the back of the net.

Watkins was a menace when he faced Liverpool in Villa's 7-2 win earlier this season as he scored three goals and assisted one. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were still fit then so it's not as though the injury crisis the Merseysiders have experienced this season was to blame.

The 24-year-old forward exploited the confusion at the back as Adrian's awful passing and positioning coupled with a ludicrously high defensive line set Liverpool up for one of their worst ever Premier League defeats.

While Watkins isn't the most clinical forward, he does have an eye for goal. The former Brentford attacker wouldn't be out of place at Anfield as far as his pace and energy is concerned.

Klopp is famous for setting his teams up to win the ball as high up the pitch as possible before finding the quickest route to goal. This style of play has seen the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah succeed not just in their respective domestic leagues but also in the Champions League.

Watkins would be great at leading the Liverpool press from the front even if he's not as technically gifted as a player like Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian is now 29 and isn't as sharp as he once was.

While he still works hard and has a wonderful way of linking midfield to attack, the former Hoffenheim star simply doesn't contribute in attacking play as much as he once did.

Klopp needs to be ruthless in his recruitment this summer and he cannot allow sentimentality to get in the way of improving his starting XI.

McLeish told Football Insider: “I could see Ollie going anywhere in the world and being a magnificent footballer within the team.

“He has got energy to burn, he’s quick, he’s elusive to defenders. He came into Villa no problem, it clicked right away.

“I believe that Ollie Watkins could go anywhere.”

Even if Watkins isn't the player that Klopp goes for this summer, someone his age, with his pace and eye for goal would improve Liverpool's attacking fortunes.

Meanwhile, the Reds are so close to completing their first signing of the summer.