Liverpool ready to pay €31m to sign Arsenal target in January

Reports from Spanish website Fichajes have claimed that Liverpool are willing to offer €31m to Barcelona in the upcoming January transfer window to sign Spanish winger Pedro. Arsenal are also interested in the 2010 World Cup winner but the Reds are determined to beat the Gunners in the market in what would be their marquee signing in the winter. Pedro’s future at Barcelona is far from certain. The 27 year old has enjoyed very less game time in the La Liga season so far. New manager has opted to go with wonder-kid Munir El Haddadi and now with the return of Luis Suarez from his four months ban, things are looking downhill for Pedro. The winger is expected to fall further down the pecking order at the Camp Nou and a move to the Premier League would come as a welcome respite.

Arsenal too are in search of a winger striker and with the anticipated departure of German Lukas Podolski in January, it is believed that the Gunners are willing to make an approach but Brendan Rodgers wants to beat the North London club to the Spaniard. Rodgers has been frustrated with Mario Balotelli’s performance so far as he is still on the lookout to sign Luis Suarez’s replacement. The Gunners though could have the upper hand as they signed Alexis Sanchez from the Blaugrana in the summer and could use the Chilean to convince Pedro to make the move in the winter.

Should Liverpool be unable to sign Pedro, the Reds would be looking at the possibility to recall Divock Origi from his loan spell at French side Lille. The Anfield side splashed out more than £110m in the summer but have struggled throughout the season.

Barcelona though would not be inclined to sell the player despite the offer. The Camp Nou outfit have been banned by the FIFA and cannot make signings in the next two transfer windows. Although the ban was temporarily lifted for this summer, it is expected to stay enforced despite the pending appeal from the Catalan club.