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Liverpool will press ahead with plans to sign a top striker following their £29million swoop for Brazil international Roberto Firmino.

The Reds have landed the Hoffenheim attacking midfielder for an initial fee of £21million with a further £8million in potential add-ons.

Firmino, who has agreed a five-year contract and will undergo a medical after the Copa America, can play up front but he’s most effective in a deeper role similar to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

The 23-year-old South American has been bought for his creative instincts as much as his goal-scoring prowess and Liverpool still intend to invest heavily in another out and out frontman.

Comment: How Ian Ayre's dash to Chile secured Firmino

Liverpool had targeted a move for Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke but they have been put off by the £32.5million asking price and believe there is better value available elsewhere.

As a result they are currently looking at other options with Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca and Zenit St Petersburg’s Salomon Rondon under consideration.

Both Colombia’s Bacca and Venezuelan attacker Rondon have been in action at the Copa America in Chile where the Reds have had staff closely monitoring their progress. Chief executive Ian Ayre is also still in South America having wrapped up the Firmino deal.

Boss Brendan Rodgers is in the process of overhauling his striking options after last season’s dismal tally of 52 league goals – 49 fewer than the previous campaign.

Young Belgium international Divock Origi, who cost £10million from Lille a year ago, will begin his Liverpool career and the Reds also have a deal in place to sign Danny Ings on July 1.

The England Under-21s striker will arrive from Burnley with the compensation fee set to be decided by a Premier League tribunal.

Rodgers wants four frontline strikers to cope with the demands of domestic and Europa League football and he needs an experienced and proven goalscorer to complement Daniel Sturridge , Origi and Ings.

With Sturridge recovering from surgery on his hip and unlikely to feature until late September at the earliest, Liverpool know they can’t rely too heavily on a player who was limited to just seven league starts during an injury-ravaged campaign.

A move for Benteke could yet materialise but only if Villa reduce their demands for the big Belgian frontman, who has no intention of signing a new contract with the Midlanders.

Read: Firmino in, Aspas out - full list of LFC transfers so far

Liverpool will look to bolster their transfer kitty by off-loading strikers Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert over the coming weeks. None of the trio have a future at Anfield.

The deal for Firmino doesn’t have any impact on Raheem Sterling’s future with the Reds under no pressure to sell in order to balance the books.

Liverpool’s stance remains unchanged in that they don’t want to lose Sterling but would reluctantly do business if their £50million valuation is met.

Manchester City have yet to return with a third bid after their improved offer of £40million was rejected last week.