Blockbuster Transfer: Liverpool contact Barcelona to sign 'special' €30m attacker with £110m buyout clause

Over the last couple of years, Liverpool have been constantly linked with a move for Barcelona star Pedro, and although the 'special' Spaniard recently signed a new contract at the Camp Nou, the Reds are still reportedly interesting in bringing him to Anfield.

Recent transfer timeline:

* March 2015: The Mirror claimed that Barcelona offered Pedro to Liverpool.

* May 2015: According to The Telegraph, 27-year old Pedro was 'ready to quit the Nou Camp' after falling down the attacking pecking order.

* June 2015: Signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2019. Buyout clause: £110m

Contracts mean very little these days, and they're often used as a tool to ensure a commensurate transfer fee. That seems to be the case with Pedro, and according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo today:

* Liverpool have contacted Pedro's agent to enquire about the possibility of a transfer.

* Pedro is exploring his options for next season as he doesn't expect to feature that much for Barca.

* Liverpool are allegedly prepared to spend more than Arsenal, who are also interested.

* Despite the buyout clause, Barca are willing to sell for €30m.

Contracts mean very little these days, and it's probable that Barcelona signed-up Pedro simply to ensure a decent transfer fee when he's inevitably sold.

€30m for a player with 20+ major trophies, including 5 league titles, 2 Champions League titles, and a World Cup winner's medal? Sounds about right to me, and I'd love to see Liverpool splash the cash on a player of Pedro's peerless experience.

Despite the ridiculous competition at Barca for attacking places, Pedro has excellent stats over the last six season:

* 98 goals/43 assists (141) in 300 apps (1 Goal/assist every 2 games)

Liverpool fans certainly hold Pedro in high regard. Last summer, I asked fans who they'd rather see LFC sign: Pedro or Lallana.

* 17100 visitors (approx) participated in the poll.
* A gigantic 80% of voters chose Pedro over Lallana.

That's a quite staggering vote of confidence in Pedro, but it's hardly surprising given the Spaniard's experience and pedigree. I also voted in favour of Pedro, for the following reasons:


* Consistent experience at the highest levels of the game, including copious European/international experience.

* Played alongside some of the world's best players for years, including Messi, Xavi, Neymar, and Iniesta.

* A winner, who's won every trophy in the game, and that kind of experience could be invaluable for Liverpool.

* A player who'll come in and give the entire club a lift. He's a marquee signing with an aura about him.

This rumour seems like it's been around forever, yet Pedro is still at Barcelona, and if he decides to leave in the summer, I still can't see him ending up at Liverpool, especially with the club failing to qualify for the Champions League.

With Steven Gerrard gone, there's a distinct lack of world-renowned players at Anfield, and that will make it harder than it is already to attract Europe's elite.

That said, if Liverpool prioritise the signing, and pull out all the stops to make Pedro feel wanted at Anfield, then there may be a possibility of sealing the deal.

I've argued repeatedly that Liverpool need another attacking, goal-scoring midfielder this season. Coutinho and Firmino are top-class, but Ibe is too young (and shouldn't be relied-upon); Markovic is unreliable, and Lallana is too inconsistent.

My top choice is Yarmolenko, but Pedro is a superb option, and with the Spaniard in the team, Liverpool could conceivably field the following forward line-up next season:

----- Firmino ------- Coutinho --------- Pedro

--------------------- Sturridge

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Author: Jaimie K