Liverpool On The VERGE Of Signing Champions League Winner

Pedro Rodriguez to Liverpool  rumors have been doing the rounds in the transfer market for each of the past two seasons. However, Brendan Rodgers will hope to be third time lucky as he plots a bid to finally bring the Spanish World cup winner and his long term target to Anfield to replace the want-away winger Raheem Sterling, who edges ever closer to a Manchester City move.

Pedro signed a contract extension in early June tying him down to Barcelona until 2019, after his name was bandied about by several top clubs including Liverpool’s rivals Arsenal and Manchester United. However, since then, Barcelona have spent €18 million on Sevilla’s Aleix Vidal , who will join in January once the Blaugrana’s transfer ban lifts. After initially being mooted as a replacement for contract rebel Dani Alves , it became clear that Vidal will occupy a wide forward role after Alves signed an extension later this month. This further reduces Pedro’s chances , who , with the arrival of Luis Suarez from Liverpool last summer, found himself down the pecking order at Camp Nou and was relegated to the bench.

This has now seemingly prompted the player to consider a move away from his boyhood club as his chances to dislodge the trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar as the preferred attacking three at Barcelona grow ever slimmer. The Reds are looking for a support striker who can play all across the front three and Pedro fits the bill perfectly, having performed the role with Barcelona and Spain.

His contract extension appears just a ploy by the Blaugrana to get maximum value for a player who at 27, is still very much in his prime and can play all across the front line. Pedro scored 6 goals for Barcelona in 35 appearances last season , majority of which were from the bench. With four years now left on his contract, Barca value him at £21 million and several clubs have sounded out their plans to try and lure the player away from Camp Nou.

The player himself is reportedly keen on a switch to the Premier League , amid interest from Italy in the shape of Inter Milan. Manchester United and Arsenal are also exploring the possibility of signing the versatile forward but it appears Liverpool will be the first to test the waters by offering Barcelona £17 million for his transfer.

Going in for Pedro might represent astute business from the Reds as the speedy forward can offer them a much needed goal threat from either flank and they will be efficiently getting an upgrade on Raheem Sterling for the short term , at allegedly less than half the price.