Liverpool’s pursuit of the Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino will be central to the club’s transfer market activity in the next 48 hours, with any hope of signing Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke now extinguished.

The club’s interest in the 23-year-old, currently at the Copa America, has not yet seen them reach the bidding stage but he is a firm target. Sevilla’s £20m Colombian Carlos Bacca and Zenit St Petersburg’s Salomon Rondon are also under consideration, though they are of less interest than Hoffenheim’s Firmino.

The search for a striker has turned abroad since it became clear that Villa were not going to budge on their negotiations around Benteke’s £32.5m exit clause. It has been made clear to the Merseyside side that the sum is non-negotiable.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Firmino is not as far advanced as reports in the Brazilian press, which suggested a fee of £17.8m had already been agreed. But the club are moving forward with the target, whose acquisition would not be dependent on Raheem Sterling leaving the club.

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Liverpool have received no third bid from Manchester City for Sterling, though another offer is likely. Real Madrid expect Liverpool’s interest in Denis Cheryshev, a winger who spent last season on loan from the club at Villarreal, to firm up if they do lose Sterling. Cheryshev is likely to be sold by the Spanish club this season. Real do not have Sterling in their sights, despite suggestions that he might be a target for Rafael Benitez’s side.

Firmino was watched frequently by Liverpool last season and the Anfield club appear to be his most likely destination, despite Manchester United’s awareness of him.