Liverpool have reportedly initiated contact with the entourage of Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Joao Pedro ahead of a possible transfer for the Brazilian in the summer window.
Reds fans have recently been rocked by the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold has apparently decided to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, and the right-back is one of three fundamental players who could soon depart for nothing.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of June, although there is more optimism about Liverpool's chances of keeping the duo, who have been critical to a Premier League title charge that will surely end in success.
Salah is on course to enjoy the best-ever individual Premier League season in terms of overall goal contributions, but while the winger has thrived, Arne Slot's centre-forwards have not.
Both Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota have come in for criticism this season, while Luis Diaz has been trialled in a centre-forward role to mixed success and would reportedly jump at the chance to leave for one particular club this summer.
Pedro becomes Slot's 'preferred choice' for summer transfer
© Imago
Neither Nunez nor Jota's futures are set in stone either, and there is an expectation that the Premier League champions-elect will move for a new centre-forward once the summer market opens for business.
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool boss Slot has now earmarked Pedro as one of his 'preferred targets', and the Reds have stepped up their interest in signing the Brazilian by initiating contact with his camp.
Twenty-three-year-old Pedro has impressed on both the goalscoring and playmaking front for Fabian Hurzeler's team this season, conjuring up eight goals and six assists from 23 Premier League appearances.
Even though Pedro is under contract at the Amex until 2028, the Seagulls would supposedly be prepared to let him leave for a relatively modest fee of €50m (£41.7m), and Liverpool are now in 'preliminary discussions' over a summer swoop.
However, the Reds are not the only team to have been alerted to Pedro's potential availability, as Arsenal, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also rumoured to be monitoring developments closely.
Pedro 'one of five strikers' on Liverpool transfer shortlist
© Imago
Regardless of Salah's future, Liverpool will be expected to bolster their central ranks before the start of the 2025-26 campaign, and Pedro is apparently just one of five targets on their shortlist.
Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak is understood to be the Reds' first choice, but as the Magpies will not let him leave for anything less than £120m, Slot's side are not putting all their eggs in that basket.
Elsewhere in England, Liverpool have supposedly been running the rule over Ipswich Town's Liam Delap in recent matches, as well as a more experienced option in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins.
The Reds' search is not restricted to the Premier League, though, as the report adds that Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram is another attacker of interest as Slot prepares for the possibility of life without Nunez.
The Uruguay international has only managed seven goals from 40 games in all competitions this season and is allegedly open to a move to Saudi Arabia after failing to secure a switch in January.
Ben Knapton
