Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Danilo and Pedro

Spanish reports claim Liverpool will battle Real Madrid for the services of Porto right-back Danilo.

According to Marca (h/t Simon Osborn of Metro.co.uk), the Anfield club are in the lead to land the 23-year-old defender, to the huge disappointment of Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. 

Osborn says the Brazilian has a release clause of £38.6 million but that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is willing to pay £28 million to get his man.

Glen Johnson is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, leaving a spot open for a major new full-back acquisition. 

Paulo Duarte/Associated Press

The player has appeared 20 times in the Portuguese league this term, per WhoScored.com, scoring three times and proving himself to be a world-class prospect. 

Jose Angel recently commented to Marca about the progression of his Porto team-mate and how he believes Danilo is destined for the very top of the sport. And he seems very keen to see the player become a Galactico (via Stefan Coerts of Goal.com):

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Danilo is a great full-back. I think he has what it takes to play for Real Madrid. He would be a good option for Madrid because he has enough quality and the conditions at Madrid are quite similar to those at Porto.

He is great going forward, but also does his part in defence. It is very hard to beat him in a one-on-one and he operates very well with a lot of space. He reminds me a bit of Maicon in his best days at Inter, when Madrid were interested in signing him. That's why I think he would be a good fit for Madrid.

He has been playing at a very high level at Porto. He adapted very well to the European game. It is never easy to deal with the pressure at a club like Madrid, but he has the experience to do it.

"

Fernando Bustamante/Associated Press

In other news, Liverpool have been alerted to the future availability of Barcelona forward Pedro, with the player hinting his time at the Camp Nou could be about to come to an end.

Joe Short of Express quotes the Spain international after he spoke with Spanish newspaper Sport about his current predicament, admitting the triple threat of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez is difficult to compete with:

"

The truth is that it’s complicated for those of us who play less. But when I go out [to play], I always give it all, the best of me. It’s my way of being; I never give up. You have to thing make things complicated for the coach when it comes to choosing the starting players.

"

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The 27-year-old has found game time increasingly difficult to materialise with the presence of Barca's superstar attackers in the squad.

But the player still has true pedigree and has won everything in the game. He would be a clear asset for any top squad.

Short also says Manchester United and Arsenal are monitoring Pedro and could compete with Liverpool if the player becomes available. 

Danilo is an interesting prospect, and Liverpool certainly need to rebuild their back four after many seasons of mediocre defensive talent.

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Danilo has an explosive reputation, and it will not be long before Madrid put in a concerted effort to grab the player, forcing Liverpool to act now.

Pedro would also be a shrewd signing for Rodgers, as he would add a winning mentality, and experience, to the Merseyside squad, which it currently does not possess.

Pedro would work well playing off Daniel Sturridge, and he would complement the movement of Raheem Sterling, as the England player attacks from different angles.

Rodgers has a fine choice of attacking midfielders at present, but he does not a have a player of Pedro's know-how.