Liverpool and Everton have been encouraged in their pursuit of Loic Remy, Queens Park Rangers leading scorer. A £9m January signing from Olympique Marseille, the France international has adapted rapidly to the Premier League with five goals in nine starts, and would prefer to remain in England's top tier despite interest from overseas.
Atletico Madrid - on course for Champions League qualification in Spain - have made initial inquiries about Remy's availability as they prepare for the sale of their own leading marksman, Radamel Falcao. In Italy, second-placed Napoli and Internazionale have also asked to be kept informed of the versatile forward's intentions.
Remy was on the point of joining Chelsea last summer on the request of then-coach Roberto Di Matteo only for the transfer to fall through when Liverpool pulled out of a deal to sign Daniel Sturridge. When the occasional England international eventually switched to Anfield in January, Di Matteo had been sacked by Chelsea who then preferred to purchase Demba Ba, leaving Remy to look elsewhere.
QPR inserted a buyout clause in Remy's contract as a means of convincing the 26-year-old to choose the relegation-threatened club ahead of other suitors, including Newcastle United. With the London club's descent to the Championship already confirmed, he is expected to be allowed to leave during the close season.
Though Liverpool insist he will not be sold, the interest in Remy reflects an awareness that Luis Suarez could be on his way out of Anfield. The Uruguay international is wanted by both Juventus and Bayern Munich and has been unimpressed with his majority of Liverpool's efforts to improve their squad subsequent to his January 2011 arrival.
Last week he received a 10-match FA suspension for biting the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and will be unavailable to Liverpool for the first six matches of next season. In an interview with The Sunday Times ahead of that game, Suarez expressed uncertainty about his future at the club.
“I want to see out my contract — but also in football you never quite know what’s ahead,” said Suarez. “Sometimes the club can decide they don’t want you, though you want to stay. Or a player could say he wanted to leave and still end up staying. In football things never turn out the way you plan them. The only thing I have in my head is I’m here and have a contract. I think I’ll be here next season, yes.”
