Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Danilo and Fabio Borini

Liverpool are hoping to contend with Real Madrid for the signature of Porto right-back Danilo, and they look likely to cash in on Fabio Borini this summer after Bologna revived their interest in the forward.

Spanish newspaper Marca (h/t Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star) reports Reds boss Brendan Rodgers wishes to replace Glen Johnson by making the £28 million surge for Danilo, who could be Brazil's long-term successor to Dani Alves. 

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It's alleged in the report Real could only go in for Danilo if they decide to move Alvaro Arbeloa, with Dani Carvajal fast rising to become Los Merengues' first choice in the right-back role.

Barcelona will look to throw a spanner in the works, however, with Sport reporting the Blaugrana have already scouted Danilo with the intention of making a move in 2016:

The Catalan giants won't be able to make a move until next year under the restrictions of their current transfer ban, but Spanish writer Sergi Dominguez hails the Porto star as a highly desirable target:

Johnson has drawn his share of criticism during his time at Anfield, and with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, his time on Merseyside appears to be nearing its final stages.

Speaking to Marca (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts), Danilo's Porto team-mate Jose Angel talked up the full-back's potential, tipping the South American to succeed should he move to the Bernabeu:

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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.

"

With Danilo's contract at the Estadio do Dragao poised to expire in 2016, Porto may well consider selling the defender this summer in a bid to make the most out of his departure.

He's made three assists and scored three goals in 20 Primeira Liga appearances this season, per Transfermarkt, but Rodgers faces heavy competition in convincing the player of a move to Anfield.

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On the departure list, Borini may finally make the permanent move away from Liverpool after struggling to maintain any kind of consistency during his two-and-a-half years with the club.

According to James Cambridge of the Express, Serie A outfit Bologna are once again interested in the Italian international after missing out on his services in January. Technical director Pantaleo Corvino is quoted as saying: "Borini was the first player I called, but we decided to talk about it again in the future."

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Borini has made just three Premier League starts this season after showcasing some of his finer form during a season-long loan at Sunderland in 2013-14.

David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News believes the striker's time has run out on Merseyside, insisting he has no future under Rodgers:

"

@Kev92Kelly @CalvLyfeson Borini, Lambert and Balotelli so obviously have no future at LFC. Origi, Ings, Sturridge do. Plus one.

— David Lynch (@DavidLynchMEN) January 30, 2015"

With Daniel Sturridge back to fitness, Borini has moved even further down the Liverpool pecking order, and a move back to his native Italy may be seen as the easiest transition as he looks to revive his career.

Daniel Storey illustrates just how many attacking players Rodgers will have among his ranks this summer, with a dire need to ship out some of the dead weight:

Borini has scored one goal in 16 appearances across all competitions this season and was one of those who struggled to counterbalance the Reds' search for goals during Sturridge's absence.

Eight years after departing for Chelsea's academy, Borini could be reunited with former club Bologna, a potential site at which he can begin his top-flight revival.