Liverpool have been told they may have to soon make a decision over the future of Taiwo Awoniyi.
The 22-year-old Nigerian striker has fallen down the pecking order at Mainz having joined the Bundesliga club on a season-long loan last summer.
Awoniyi has made just six appearances for the Bundesliga side and was substituted at half-time of his only start.
His last outing was on December 7 when he played the second half of the 2-1 defeat at Augsburg, and the forward has failed to make the bench in any of Mainz's last four games.
And Mainz sporting director Rouven Schroder has hinted the player has options to move elsewhere but admits the final call rests with Liverpool.
"There were and there are opportunities, but ultimately Liverpool FC and their management have the final decision," he said to Kicker.
"Unfortunately, he did not use his chances effectively. Now he is of course giving everything, given the competition he has ahead of him at the moment."
While the transfer window has closed in England and most major European leagues, it remains open in several other competitions including those in Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States and several Scandinavian countries.
Awoniyi joined Liverpool in August 2015 and signed an improved five-year contract in 2018.
He has had loan spells at FSV Frankfurt in Germany and Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, and was at Mouscron in 2017-18 before returning to the Belgian side in January 2019 having struggled to make an impact at Gent during the first half of last season.
Gent were forced to pay Liverpool a financial penalty as part of the deal after Awoniyi failed to start 70% of their matches.
