Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Kasper Schmeichel and Kieran Tierney

Rumoured Liverpool target Kasper Schmeichel has been tipped to stay at Leicester City despite interest from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

The Reds are one of three teams, along with Manchester United and Manchester City, said to be interested in the Danish goalkeeper, according to Dave Armitage of the Daily Star.

However, Armitage's report also featured quotes from Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare anticipating Schmeichel to stay beyond this summer's transfer window:

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I'm not aware of any interest in him. Ultimately I think Kasper is happy here. He's under a long-term contract with us and if bids come in we don't need to sell him.

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Shakespeare also downplayed the significance of Schmeichel recently changing his agent: "He's perfectly entitled to change his agent. I don't have a problem with players wanting to progress. We've had no offers so we will cross that bridge when we come to it."

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The Leicester manager may sound confident about Schmeichel's commitment to the Foxes, but there is no doubt interest is growing in the talented stopper. In fact, the Denmark international is even generating buzz outside the Premier League.

The 30-year-old, who could cost as much as £35 million, according to Armitage, has recently emerged as a possible target for La Liga giants Real Madrid, per A Bola (h/t Sky Sports News HQ). Schmeichel is seen as an alternative to David De Gea should Los Blancos be unable to land the United No. 1.

Alternatively, the Red Devils are expected to make Schmeichel their top target if De Gea returns to the Spanish capital this summer.

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None of that will matter to Liverpool, though, not when the Reds could count on Schmeichel to upgrade one of the more problematic positions in their squad. The Reds haven't been short of errors between the sticks this season, with both Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius guilty of more than one high-profile gaffe.

By contrast, dependability has become the watchword of Schmeichel's game. His athleticism and smart decisions made him a pillar of the Foxes team that won the Premier League title last season.

The former Leeds United goalkeeper compares more than favourably to both Mignolet and Karius, according to the Premier League's official website:

Player	Appearances	Saves	Clean Sheets	Errors Leading to Goal
Kasper Schmeichel	26	94	7	1
Simon Mignolet	25	47	6	1
Loris Karius	10	20	3	2

Schmeichel's superior command in the air and greater efficiency would give Liverpool's defence a huge boost next season. The Anfield club must test Leicester's resolve this summer.

Rafael Benitez to Provide Competition for Celtic Ace

Another player who can upgrade a suspect spot in the Liverpool ranks is Celtic's teenage left-back Kieran Tierney. However, the Reds will face competition from a familiar face for the 19-year-old defender.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez, who won the UEFA Champions League and an FA Cup while in charge at Liverpool, is also determined to sign Tierney, per the Daily Star's Ian Murtagh.

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Benitez wants Tierney after guiding Newcastle back to the top flight but knows there is already some strong competition for the full-back, per the report.

Murtagh wrote: "And the Geordies know Liverpool and Arsenal are also interested in Tierney, who has won three Scotland caps and is in contention to retain his Young Player of the Year award north of the border after an outstanding campaign."

Liverpool's links to Tierney are now well-established, with the Anfield club said to be preparing a bid worth £10 million last year, per Wayne Veysey of Football Insider. The Celtic star later said he never thought about leaving, per the Daily Record's David McCarthy.

Yet things may have changed now Tierney is on the cusp of winning a domestic treble with Celtic. It's arguably the pinnacle of the success he could achieve with the Scottish side, so a move to a top Premier League club capable of competing more strongly in Europe could appeal.

Liverpool need fresh options at left-back, where converted midfielder James Milner has done his best to fill the berth. The England international has had to play because Alberto Moreno has struggled over the last two seasons.

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Tierney boasts the energy, recovery pace and technical acumen to be an asset in Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's press-heavy style of play. Signing a bright young attacking full-back with room to grow would rate as a coup for a club likely to be playing Champions League football next season.

The same would be true of any deal to sign Schmeichel. Landing Tierney and Leicester's No. 1 would earn Liverpool two talented players who can still get better.

Pursuing targets such as these is the best way for the Anfield club to compete with those in England's top flight who are financially equipped to go after bank-breaking deals.