Real Madrid's injury woes mounted Friday with news that two more top strikers—Frenchman Karim Benzema and Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain—are unavailable for the match against Gijon this weekend.

Benzema is injured in both feet and Higuain has a muscle problem in his left leg, the club said.

Real is already without Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who has a sprained ankle, and Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a thigh muscle injury.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini has been forced to call up 21-year-old Paraguayan Javier Acuna from the reserves to support veteran captain Raul up front.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is already putting together a shortlist for next summer's transfer market, and it appears that his priority is a swoop for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

"It's no secret Gerrard is a player Perez and technical director Jorge Valdano admire," a source inside the club announced to British tabloid The Sun.

"There is a shortlist for next season and Gerrard is the first name on it."

Having signed Xabi Alonso from the Premier League side last summer for €30 million, los Blancos are looking to spend around the same amount on the 29-year-old.

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is already under heavy fire after an awful start to the season and he would be loath to lose his star midfielder.

Gerrard's loyalty to Liverpool has previously been tested by Real Madrid and Chelsea, who he was on the verge of joining in 2005 before a change of heart at the 11th hour.